Rizzo fractures fingers on HBP, isn't ruled out for playoffs

NEW YORK -- The Yankees could be without Anthony Rizzo for the beginning of their postseason drive, as the veteran sustained fractures to the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand after being hit by a pitch in Saturday’s 9-4 loss to the Pirates.

Rizzo was hit by a pitch from left-hander Ryan Borucki during the bottom of the seventh inning and was in immediate pain, with his exclamation audible from the television microphones behind home plate.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism for a quick recovery, even saying that the injury might not keep Rizzo out of the playoffs. The American League Division Series will begin on Oct. 5 at Yankee Stadium.

“We’ll see what we have as the week moves forward,” Boone said. “It doesn’t totally rule him out. It’s something that is a pain tolerance thing, so we’ll see as the days unfold here what we have.”

Boone said that Rizzo was unable to put his glove on after the half-inning, prompting Oswaldo Cabrera to replace Rizzo at first base. If Rizzo is unable to play in the ALDS, Boone said that the Yankees would consider starting Cabrera at first base.

Rookie Ben Rice was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. Rice has batted .269 (18-for-67) with one double, nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 19 games since being optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sept. 1.

Rice enjoyed early success after being called up to replace an injured Rizzo in June, including a three-homer game on July 6 against the Red Sox. Rice hit .174 (26-for-149) with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 49 games overall.

“He’s gone down and played really well again this last month in Triple-A, so he would definitely be in the mix,” Boone said.

It is unclear if DJ LeMahieu will have enough time to work his way into the first base mix, at least for the ALDS.

Currently on the injured list with a right hip impingement, LeMahieu has said that he is ramping up baseball activities in hopes of being ready, but he has not faced pitching since Sept. 3.

Rizzo missed 62 games earlier this season after sustaining a right forearm fracture in a June 16 collision with pitcher Brennan Bernardino of the Red Sox. He has been hit by pitches 222 times in his career, the eighth most in Major League history.

“He’s come back and done a really good job for us, helping us anchor our defense,” Boone said. “He’s been giving us really good at-bats too at the bottom of the order. We’ll see what we have moving forward. I don’t want to jump to anything. We’ll see how he responds in the next several days before we kick things off in a week.”