MIAMI — DJ LeMahieu remained out of the lineup on Saturday, but the Yankees are hopeful he should be able to avoid the injured list.
The veteran infielder missed his third straight game because of right calf tightness, which popped up on Wednesday in Chicago.
While manager Aaron Boone said he was available off the bench, he didn’t play and it remains to be seen when he might return to the lineup.
“DJ seems to be doing alright,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 3-1 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot Park. “So far, it does look like we’re going to avoid the IL with it.”
LeMahieu has been able to go through pregame workouts the past two days. After he was only available in an emergency on Friday, LeMahieu was available on Saturday and Boone said he would have used him had the game gotten deeper.
Asked if that meant he would be in the lineup Sunday, Boone was noncommittal.
“We’ll see about that,” he said. “But I would expect him to be available.”
Relievers Scott Effross and Lou Trivino, both of whom are rehabbing in Tampa following Tommy John surgery, joined the Yankees in Miami this weekend.
Effross, who underwent the procedure last October, threw the sixth or seventh bullpen session of his rehab process on Saturday afternoon at loanDepot Park.
He is scheduled to advance to facing live hitters in September or October before heading into the offseason, which should have him ready for spring training.
“If everything continues on the same track, definitely,” said Effross, who is under team control through 2027. “I feel really strong. Hopefully use the offseason well and come back strong. But that’s kind of the goal.”
Trivino, who has one more year left with the Yankees, has a longer road ahead after he had the surgery in May.
Aaron Judge started in right field on Saturday after serving as the designated hitter on Friday.
Asked whether he had any hesitation putting Judge on the turf — given that he is playing at less than 100 percent after coming back from a torn ligament in his big right toe — Boone paused.
“I guess I’m hesitating right now answering your question,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s always a little tricky — not so much from the toe standpoint. But the fact that he’s been DHing a lot — when it comes to the turf, whether it be we go to Tampa or Toronto or different places, usually it’s more of when he’s been playing every day for a 10-day stretch, then I get a little concerned about it. But not so much when it comes to the toe.”
Carlos Rodon threw a bullpen session on Saturday for the first time since he strained his left hamstring last Sunday. He is eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 22.
The Yankees’ rotation for their upcoming series against the Braves will be Clarke Schmidt, Luis Severino and Randy Vasquez, who could pitch behind an opener again.
