The Yankees received encouraging news on Sunday regarding Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, who are both progressing toward September returns from the disabled list.Hoch also reported that Mark Teixeira expects to return to the lineup tonight in Chicago, saying on Sunday "That's the goal. I could probably push it today, but we don't want any setbacks. We don't want anything to get inflamed again. So we're going to take it easy today."
A-Rod and Pettitte had X-rays performed on their fractured left hand and fractured left fibula, respectively, and team doctors told the players that their injuries are healing as expected.
"Everything is as scheduled," said Rodriguez, who was hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch on July 24 in Seattle. "We talked about four to six weeks at the beginning, and I think Tuesday is the four-week mark. We're right on schedule."
Rodriguez said that he will spend the next few days strengthening and expects to be re-evaluated during Thursday's off-day between series at Chicago and Cleveland. He has been keeping his arm in shape, throwing both baseballs and footballs often.
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Pettitte returned from that Seattle trip having been told that he pushed himself too hard, hoping to accelerate his recovery from a June 27 broken ankle, but that swelling has subsided and doctors are closer to permitting him to resume pitching on a mound.
"Everything looks good -- it's healing up," Pettitte said. "Obviously, like I told you all before, I'm excited when they tell me, 'OK you can go on the mound and see how it feels.'
"But I've got to get on flat ground. I'll do that on this road trip, and hopefully after this road trip, it'll all be good. I'm hoping maybe right when we get back from this road trip, I might be able to get back on a mound."
All good news. With the way the Yanks have been playing the idea of getting these three back for the stretch run should put a smile on every Yankees fan's face.