Derek Jeter Expected To Return To Yankees Lineup Tuesday

CHICAGO (AP) — Derek Jeter nicked the top of his right middle finger fielding a grounder the other day, and kept playing. The All-Star shortstop got hit on the same finger by a pitch on Sunday, and that forced him from the game.

It also led to a rare day off on Monday.

Jeter rested during the New York Yankees' 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox but is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday night.

"He told me he felt better today, which I thought was good," manager Joe Girardi said before New York's fourth consecutive win. "But if I'm going to give him a day on this trip somewhere, today's probably the day to do it, just because he was sore yesterday, we had to bring him out of the game. It just gives it a better chance to heal."

After the four games against the White Sox, New York travels to Boston for a weekend series at Fenway Park. The Yankees trail the AL East-leading Red Sox by one game.

Jeter was hit by a pitch on the knuckles of his right hand during New York's 4-2 victory over Baltimore and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fourth inning. X-rays were negative and the Yankees said he has a bruised middle finger.

The 37-year-old Jeter had missed just two games since he was activated July 4 following a stint on the disabled list for a strained right calf.

"An extra day will help, because you use your hands when you do everything, hit, throw," Jeter said. "But, no, I can play."

Jeter is batting .268 with four homers and 36 RBIs in 84 games this season. He was replaced by Eduardo Nunez, who batted eighth, and center fielder Curtis Granderson was in Jeter's usual spot against right-handers, the No. 2 hole.

Chicago also was without its captain on Monday night. First baseman Paul Konerko has a bruised left calf after being hit by a pitch Sunday.

"Are people going to show up to the ballgame with the two captains not playing?" White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said with a wry grin. "That's a shame. I think some people just returned their tickets."

Jeter thinks he will play Tuesday, and Girardi also indicated injured third baseman Alex Rodriguez is inching closer to a return. Rodriguez had surgery July 11 to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

"It looks like he's going to go to Tampa on Wednesday and start working out on Thursday," Girardi said. "I think he's seeing the doctor today but as of yesterday that was kind of the plan. Could that change on what the doctor says today? Possibly, but I think that's probably the plan."

Rodriguez, who turned 36 last month, is hitting .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs this season. But the three-time MVP with 626 career home runs has not connected since June 11 and has gone 85 at-bats without a homer, his longest single-season drought.

Girardi said he thinks Rodriguez would need at least one rehab appearance, and there is no timeline for his return.

"The fact that he is going to start doing baseball activities on Thursday is a great sign," Girardi said.

The Yankees also announced Monday that Ivan Nova would start the series finale against the White Sox, giving them a six-man rotation for at least the next week. The move provides some extra rest for aging starters Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, and sets up a competition between Phil Hughes and Nova.

While Girardi refused to rule out staying with a six-man rotation past next Monday's off day, he acknowledged the club probably would have to choose between Hughes and Nova for the final starting spot. Hughes is scheduled to face Chicago on Tuesday night.

"If they both throw the ball the way that we want them to, I mean then the decision is going to be difficult on what we do," Girardi said. "Do you put one of them in the bullpen or do you keep one going as a starter, knowing that we have another split-doubleheader coming up (in four weeks)? You have to prepare for those things, too."

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://twitter.com/jcohenap

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.