Juan Soto will miss Friday’s series opener against the Oakland Athletics after he still had some inflammation in his knee.
The Yankees outfielder was initially in the starting lineup but was removed hours before first pitch. Manager Aaron Boone said X-rays on Soto’s knee were negative but the team are not overly concerned this will be a long-term issue.
Soto suffered the knee injury when he made a sliding catch in foul territory in Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Mariners. Soto slid and caught the fly ball but his right knee banged into the wall. After writhing in pain for a moment, and being tended to by the Yankees trainers, he remained in the game.
Boone said that Soto could be available off the bench on Friday and the hope is he’s back in the lineup on Saturday.
The Yankees enter Friday’s game four games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. Their magic number to clinch the division is six.
