Nunez Is “Ready If Needed”

Eduardo Nunez has not played since he injured his knee fielding a grounder on Tuesday. But he says he is ready if called upon by manager Joe Girardi. Most importantly, Nunez is confident he can be effective.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

“I think I can play today if they need me,” Nunez said. “And help.”

The results of an MRI on Nunez were negative. So the Yankees listed his availability as “day to day.”

With Robinson Cano back in the lineup, there is no reason to rush Nunez.  If for some reason Girardi needed to substitute at second base, he could choose to move Mark Reynolds there in order to keep Reynolds’ hot bat in the lineup.

Reynolds has been with the Yankees for two weeks and his contribution has been tremendous. Against the Blue Jays he had four hits in eight at bats. Friday, he went three for four against the Orioles.

“He made a little adjustment in his swing, Girardi said of Reynolds, “he swung the bat really good the other night and he’s swung the bat pretty good for us,” Girardi said. “I just kind of see, with the adjustments Mark has made, he can be extremely productive. Because we’ve seen him get extremely hot. … That would be huge for us.”

And Giradi knows that this home stand could make or break the season. He has said that he thinks the Yankees need to win 93 games to make the postseason. That was the number of wins needed to earn a wild card spot last season.

“I know we have to play awfully well to get to where we want,”  he  said. “And we have an opportunity to pass teams that are in front of us because we’re playing them, but we’re going to have to play really good baseball.”

And they did last night to get started on their way.