The New York Yankees won't have Derek Jeter in the lineup on Friday when they kick off the second half of the season with the first of three games against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
After missing the first 91 games recovering from a fractured ankle, Jeter made his debut last Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. However, the future Hall of Famer was removed for a pinch hitter late in that contest with a quadriceps injury and sat out the Yankees' weekend series against the Minnesota Twins.
The Yankees placed Jeter on the disabled list Friday morning with a Grade 1 right quadriceps strain.
New York, though, should have All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano in the lineup. Cano started Tuesday's All-Star Game, but was removed in the first inning after being hit in his right leg by a 96-mph fastball from the Mets' Matt Harvey.
"They called (Yankees head athletic trainer Steve Donohue) and everything is good with them," Cano said. "They said just put ice on it, the X-ray was negative and get some rest."
New York can ill afford to lose Cano for any length of time, as the Yankees' offense is tied for 20th in runs with 373, is 28th in extra-base hits with 234 and 16th in walks with 273.
"We've got to be more consistent offensively," manager Joe Girardi said. "And if we do that, we're going to have a shot. But that's probably what we need to do, more than anything."
Despite an amazing rash of injuries and a patchwork lineup, Girardi's club is just six games back of the American League East-leading Red Sox and three games behind in the wild card.
Getting the call for the Yankees on Friday will be lefty Andy Pettitte, who won his final two starts before the break. Pettitte beat the Kansas City Royals last Thursday, as he gave up four runs (3 earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to run his record to 7-6 to go along with a 4.39 ERA.
Pettitte beat the Red Sox earlier in the year and is 19-10 lifetime against them with a 3.82 ERA in 40 games, 38 of which have been starts.
Boston, meanwhile, has enjoyed a terrific bounce back campaign under new manager John Farrell. After losing 93 games under Bobby Valentine last season, Farrell, a pitching coach with the Red Sox under Terry Francona, has turned things around and Boston begins its second half atop the American League East with the best record in the league at 58-39.
The Red Sox stand a good chance at stretching their lead, as 13 of their next 16 games will come at Fenway.
Heading to the hill for the Red Sox on Friday will be lefty Felix Doubront, who is 6-3 with a 3.91 ERA. Doubront won his second straight start on July 10 in Seattle, as he held the Mariners to a run and five hits over seven innings.
He is 2-1 in nine games (5 starts) versus the Yankees with a 2.52 ERA.
Boston has won four of its six games with the Yankees this season. However, this is the first series of the year between the two in Beantown, where the Yankees went 7-2 a year ago.
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