BOSTON (Reuters) - New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez is likely to miss the entire series against the Boston Red Sox this week because of a sprained left thumb.
The Yankees All-Star third baseman received a cortisone shot on Monday and was unable to take batting practice on Tuesday before the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
"It's so frustrating to come here. It's the last time we come here for the regular season. It hurts just sitting on the sidelines, just watching. It's one of my favorite places to play."
Rodriguez, who had knee surgery last month, hurt his thumb on August 21 and aggravated the injury in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez could be used as a pinch-runner or to play defense in the Red Sox series but that he was unlikely to play a major role.
"Would I be surprised if he didn't play in this series? I wouldn't be," Girardi added. "Am I hopeful? Yes, that we'll get him tomorrow or maybe the next day. But I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have him."
Rodriguez has played in only four games since he missed six weeks following surgery on his right knee. He is just 3-for-17 with one home run since his return.
The Yankees (80-52) are trying to narrow a 1.5-game deficit in the American League East in their three-game series with the first-placed Red Sox (82-51).
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom)
