Dinged-Up Hiroki Kuroda Expected To Make Next Start For Yankees
BALTIMORE (CBSNewYork/AP) — The New York Yankees simply cannot afford to lose another front-line player from their already decimated roster, so a bit of good news came out of their loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.
If they're lucky, the Yankees will have pitcher Hiroki Kuroda back before he misses a single start.
Kuroda was forced from New York's 6-3 defeat with a bruised right calf. The injury occurred when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Manny Machado in the second inning. Kuroda stuck after the initial impact but departed one inning later.
"I wasn't too worried about the injury beyond tonight but was worried that it might matter tonight and it did," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought he had trouble pushing off it. It was unfortunate that he was hit by the ball."
Girardi said he'd be "shocked" if Kuroda won't be able to return in five days, and the right-hander appeared hopeful.
"It will depend on how I feel tomorrow, but for me, I'm going to make that start," Kuroda said through a translator.
After Chris Davis singled in Baltimore's three-run third, Kuroda grimaced near the mound. A discussion involving the New York trainer, Kuroda and Girardi ensued. The right-hander eventually walked off the field.
"When I tried to move my feet, I felt it a little bit," Kuroda said.
Girardi didn't sound too worried after the game.
"You get concerned, but it's all muscular," Girardi said. "That should heal. It'll be sore a little bit tomorrow and the next day, but that'll go away."
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