Left fielder Brett Gardner is going to see the doctor on Sunday and hopes to receive clearance to start swinging soon. Gardner has been on the disabled list retroactive to April 18 with a right elbow strain and has missed 29 games.

"I've been resting it and doing all the rehab and all the treatment they want me to do and everything else is really good," Gardner said after the Yankees' 6-5 to the Cincinnati Reds. "As soon as that elbow gets right, I start hitting and I should be a couple days away."

Gardner had been scheduled to return earlier this month, but then he aggravated the elbow again. He believes he tried to return too early. The left fielder is now hoping that he will be able to return at the end of next week. The Yankees start a nine-game road trip on Friday.

"That'd be great," Gardner said. "If I could start swinging here in the next couple of days, I'll be ready by next weekend for sure."

CHAPMAN IMPRESSES: The Yankees got their first look at Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman and he was as good as advertised, striking out two in a scoreless inning.

"The kid's got a great arm, no doubt about it," manager Joe Girardi said.

Chapman handled the Yankees' top bats, striking out lefties Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano before retiring Alex Rodriguez on a pop to short. Chapman has not given up an earned run in 21 1/3 innings to start the season.

"You don't see lefties that throw 100 miles per hour," Rodriguez said. "He gave me a good pitch to hit, put a good swing on it and just hit it straight up. Pretty electric."

OTHER NOTES: The Yankees are now 20-5 when they score at least four runs. ... They still own the best interleague winning percentage at .594. ... The 15 strikeouts by the pitching staff matched a season high. ... They have committed an error in four straight games. ... Two of Russell Martin's five hits at Yankee Stadium are homers.