The New York Yankees fear first baseman Mark Teixeira aggravated a leg injury in an ill-fated sprint to first base, and the severity of his strained left calf will determine if he returns to play this season.
Teixeira returned Saturday night from a 10-day absence, then hurt himself on the final play of New York’s 5-4 loss to Baltimore.
Asked if he envisioned Teixeira playing again soon, Yankees manager Joe Girardi replied: “No, I don’t think he’ll be a player for us. I’d be surprised, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Teixeira is expected to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test today. If his calf is in the same condition as two weeks ago, his return this season will be in question.
“That would be (a) worst-case scenario … ” Teixeira said. “I thought I could play on it at 80 percent and I couldn’t do it. So when I come back next time, whatever it’s going to be, I am going to make sure it’s better than 80.”
WESTBROOK INJURED
St. Louis right-hander Jake Westbrook will miss his next start because of a strained right oblique muscle.
Westbrook was injured in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-3 loss to Milwaukee. Third baseman David Freese also was hurt during the game and was out of the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Brewers.
Westbrook says he will not accompany the team on its upcoming seven-game trip, which begins today at the San Diego Padres. He was scheduled to start on Thursday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
SHORT HOPS
The White Sox were without Adam Dunn and Kevin Youkilis for a third consecutive game. Dunn is day to day with a strained right oblique, while Youkilis is expected back today after returning home for the birth of his son. … Brewers first baseman Corey Hart left Sunday’s game at St. Louis in the top of the fifth inning with an apparent leg injury. Hart was limping noticeably after fielding a ground ball from Matt Carpenter to end the fourth inning and was replaced by Travis Ishikawa. … Rangers pitcher Roy Oswalt left after two innings in his start against the Rays on Sunday because of some right flexor muscle soreness near his elbow. … Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was scratched from his Sunday against the Giants. The team didn’t immediately provide further details on the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner’s condition. … The Indians activated Lonnie Chisenhall from the 60-day disabled list before Sunday’s game at Minnesota. The infielder missed more than two months after having a bone in his right forearm broken by a pitch from Jake Arrieta in a June 29 game at Baltimore. Also, pitcher Josh Tomlin was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
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