BALTIMORE — First baseman Mark Teixeira is out of the Yankees’ starting lineup because of thumb and toe injuries.
Teixeira has been playing on a broken small right toe since being hit by a pitch from Oakland’s Vin Mazzaro on Aug. 31.
But a deep bone bruise in his right thumb has made swinging from both sides of the plate increasingly difficult for the switch-hitting Teixeira, who is batting .259 with 30 homers and 101 RBIs. Yankees manager Joe Girardi informed Teixeira on Friday night that he would have Saturday night off against the Baltimore Orioles.
Lance Berkman started at first base for the Yankees.
Braves’ Saito sidelined.
Takashi Saito is out with a sore right shoulder and the Braves are uncertain if they’ll get their setup man back this season.
The injury is a blow to Atlanta’s stellar bullpen as the Braves try to maintain a slim lead in the NL wild-card race.
Saito left Friday night’s victory over the Mets with pain in his pitching shoulder after striking out both batters he faced in the eighth inning. The Braves said the 40-year-old righty is unavailable for the final two games of the series. Saito will travel back to Atlanta today to undergo tests Monday.
Saito is 2-3 with a 2.52 ERA and one save in 55 appearances.
“Hopefully, we can get him back this season. He’s an integral part of the bullpen. He’s been lights out,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
Injured Pirates.
Pirates outfielders Garrett Jones and Lastings Milledge are out with injuries, and their status for the remainder of the season is in doubt.
Jones, who leads the Pirates with 20 homers and 77 RBIs, has a right shoulder injury.
Milledge is likely out for the season with a strained left oblique. He hasn’t played since Monday.
