Voit seeking swing fix; Edwin to get sim ABs

ARLINGTON -- It is an indication of Luke Voit's recent fortune that the Yankees first baseman was pleased to be hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of Saturday's 9-4 loss to the Rangers, simply because it meant that he could trot to first base.

With the postseason in sight, Voit is searching to shake a 1-for-32 slump over his last 10 games. The skid may push him out of a starting role in the American League Division Series, especially if Edwin Encarnación recovers from his strained left oblique in time to face the Twins.

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"I feel like I'm having good at-bats," Voit said. "Sometimes the baseball gods don't work in your favor too much. I'm trying everything I can do to get back to where I was. I was feeling good after that last road trip and I kind of ran into some bad luck. I'm not trying to make excuses about that. Obviously the results haven't been there the last week."

Voit said his skid is not related to the sports hernia that forced him to miss nearly all of August, though he has batted just .200/.319/.338 with two homers and eight RBIs in 24 games since being activated on Aug. 30. Overall, Voit is batting .263/.378/.464 with 21 homers and 62 RBIs in 118 games.

"All I'm trying to control right now is just to hit the ball hard," Voit said. "Whether that's a ground ball, fly ball or -- at this point, a blooper. I'm just trying to have good at-bats, trying to take my walks and I guess my hit-by-pitches. If I can't do it at the plate, which I wasn't the last two weeks, I'm trying to play good defense."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he sensed Voit began to press after he was not rewarded for a few hard-hit balls during the homestand. Voit said he hopes to log simulated at-bats this week at Yankee Stadium, which could help him reclaim his timing.

Although Voit once seemed to be a safe bet to make the postseason roster, Boone said this weekend that Mike Ford's hot September has inserted him into the conversation, an indication that the club is considering all options.

"I don't think I'm putting too much stress on me," Voit said. "Obviously I hope I make the roster, but I have no idea. There's a lot of good players in this locker room. I'm just trying to do what I can to help this team win."

Health check
Encarnación had been expected to play in the season-ending series against the Rangers, but general manager Brian Cashman said the club made "a strategic decision" to rest the slugger until the ALDS. Encarnación is expected to take part in simulated at-bats beginning Tuesday in New York.

"We expect him to be available Friday, but until we get him through some at-bats Tuesday and Wednesday, that'll be the final determination," Cashman said. "So that's an example of something we're optimistic, but we need more information before we make the final call."

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Additionally, Cashman said he believes James Paxton will be ready for the ALDS after being diagnosed with nerve irritation in his left glute.

"He felt a little something, so they decided to pull the rip cord for safety purposes," Cashman said. "Now he's on some medication that should really assist him in the next 24 to 48 hours to have it fully resolved. That's our expectation, so I kind of have that one in the rearview mirror."

On to the next one
The Yankees had the honor of playing in the final game at Globe Life Park on Sunday, not that Boone shed any tears during his walk from the bus. Why? Boone recalled that he never hit well in the ballpark -- he was 5-for-28 (.179) in Arlington as an active player.

"I'm not a fan, because I didn't play well," Boone said. "That's how sometimes we as players define it. I came in here where I was in some slumps and I didn't play a ton of games here. But it was a beautiful ballpark at the time it was built. I still think when you drive up, it's got a modern, new look to it."

The Rangers will move across the street next season to Globe Life Field, which will feature a retractable roof.

"I think everyone's probably looking forward to that roof, but this has been a good ballpark, and obviously they've had some really good teams over the years," Boone said.

This date in Yankees history
Sept. 29, 1987: Don Mattingly hit his sixth grand slam of the season in the Yankees' 6-0 win over the Red Sox. The blast, off Boston hurler Bruce Hurst, set a Major League record that was later equaled by Travis Hafner (2006).