Pregame notes: Mark Teixeira sent home for more tests on right shin

The Yankees expected to have Mark Teixeira back in the lineup on Friday. Now it’s three days later, and Teixeira is still not ready to play.

Instead of holding out more hope, the Yankees have sent Teixeira back to New York for more tests on his sore right leg. Teixeira hurt himself fouling a ball off his leg two weeks ago and has started only one game since. Joe Girardi said this afternoon that Teixeira will not play during this Boston series. Rosters will expand tomorrow, but for tonight, the Yankees will be short-handed.

“We’re not happy with where it’s at,” Girardi told reporters.

Teixeira is the Yankees’ leader in OPS (.906) and home runs (31). He ranks top three on the team in on-base percentage, walks and RBI. Greg Bird has been an encouraging young replacement, but his .255/.339/.412 slash line doesn’t have nearly the explosive power of Teixeira’s .255/.357/.548.

There’s also a matchup issue in play. Although Bird has handled both lefties and righties in his minor league career, the Yankees are a left-leaning lineup as it is, and Teixeira brought some switch-hitting balance. He has been much better against right-handers this season, but generally has been better against lefties in his career.

Without Teixeira, the Yankees don’t have a strong right-handed option at first base. Bird is a lefty (so was Garrett Jones), and now the Yankees are considering Alex Rodriguez as a first-base option for Wednesday when they face another left-handed starter.

Even when rosters expand, there’s not an experienced first baseman who hits right-handed in line for a call-up. Tyler Austin has played some first, but he’s stuck in Double-A and seems unlikely to join the team. Dustin Ackley has played some first, but he hits left-handed. Jose Pirela has a little first base experience, but he’s been there only once this season.

UPDATE, 5:33 p.m.: Brian Cashman said pregame that he would prefer to have Chase Headley at first base ahead of Rodriguez. I suppose that opens the possibility of Headley at first, Refsnyder at second and Ryan at third (or Pirela at second or third) against lefties.

Hard to make up for losing a player like Teixeira in any circumstance. Pressure might fall to the other middle-of-the-order hitters — not necessarily the replacement at first base — to pick up the offensive slack.

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• From Meredith Maarakovits: CC Sabathia threw a regular bullpen today. It was his first time since going on the disabled list, and he’s expected to throw one more bullpen before facing hitters.

• Brian Cashman said pregame that the Yankees see Sabathia as a starter, not a reliever, when he comes off the disabled list.

• Girardi mentioned this weekend that he was considering the idea of Rodriguez at first base against a lefty. He’s not doing it today, but could use him at first base on Wednesday. Just my own opinion, but it might make more sense to wait until Wednesday to make that move when rosters have expanded and it’s easier to pull Rodriguez out of the game after the Red Sox go to their bullpen.

• As he’s said since Spring Training, Rodriguez told David Lennon that he’s willing to play wherever Girardi wants him to play, though Lennon notes that Rodriguez sounded “less than enthusiastic” about playing first again. Rodriguez really does seem to have grown to like the regular DH role. It’s kept him healthy so far, and he’s clearly found some success with that routine.

• Jon Heyman reported today that the Yankees put in a claim on closer Dave Robertson. That sort of thing isn’t unusual, and it’s little surprise that the White Sox pulled Robertson back without making a trade.

• Carlos Beltran is one double away from 500 for his career. His 30 doubles this season lead the Yankees and rank eighth in the American League. The only American League outfielder with more doubles is Michael Brantley, who has more than anyone at any position in the Majors this season.

Associated Press photos

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