New York Yankees slugger Robinson Cano was out of the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time this season, but is hopeful that the one game will be all he misses, reports Mark Polishuk of the New York Post.
Cano, who was hit in the left hand by a fastball from J.A. Happ in the first inning Tuesday, is optimistic that Thursday's day off will be all the extra healing time he needs and, if all goes well, he should be back in the lineup by Friday:
"The swelling has decreased, now we have to wait until Friday. It’s good we’re off...
"I’ll swing in the cage and see how it feels, try to get ready for batting practice. I would say during batting practice, I would know."
Cano spent most of Wednesday receiving treatment on his bruised hand after initial X-rays came back negative. With the small mountain of injuries that have piled up for the Yankees this season, a long-term injury to their all-star second baseman may have been the one to send the team spiraling.
Given Cano's positive response to Wednesday's treatment, however, even manager Joe Girardi believes "in [his] heart" that Cano will be ready to go by Friday.
New York sits 8½ games back of the Red Sox in the AL East and 5½ games behind the Athletics for the second wild card.
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