NEW YORK -- New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira missed Friday night's game against the Boston Red Sox due to soreness in his left wrist, the same wrist he injured 2½ weeks ago.
However, All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, who was limited to one pinch-hit at-bat over the last two games due to a stiff neck, returned to the lineup batting third.
"(Teixeira) is sore again. It's something he's been battling since he hurt it the first time," said manager Joe Girardi, who added that he wouldn't be surprised if Teixeira misses Saturday's game as well. "And it got to a point where we're going to have to give him some time off again. I don't think that it's a long-term problem, but we've just gotta get through this."
Teixeira originally suffered the injury -- which was deemed wrist inflammation -- while taking a swing on July 29 vs. Boston. He aggravated it while diving for a ground ball the following day against the Baltimore Orioles. But an MRI revealed no structural damage, and Teixeira received a cortisone shot to ease the pain.
Teixeira missed two games before returning to the lineup on Aug. 3 against the Seattle Mariners. He has played 14 straight games since.
"It's probably time to give it a rest anyway, and it being a little sore, it just makes sense to take a day or two off, so we'll see how long it takes," said Teixeira, adding that the soreness has been building up over the last few days.
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Teixeira said he won't require another cortisone shot and hopes the injury doesn't linger all season.
Cano missed Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers, then walked during a pinch-hit at-bat Thursday afternoon. He is batting .311 with 25 homers and 68 RBIs.
Teixeira is batting .257 with 23 home runs and 78 RBIs. Nick Swisher is starting at first base on Friday night. Girardi said Swisher likely will receive the bulk of playing time at first while Teixeira is out.
Left-hander CC Sabathia (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen soon, Girardi said, though he did not have an exact date.
Sabathia hopes to start on Aug. 24, a day after he's first eligible to come off the disabled list, though Girardi doesn't know if that'll happen yet.
Girardi said third baseman Alex Rodriguez (hand) and left-hander Andy Pettitte (ankle), also on the DL, are "progressing along."
Saturday afternoon's starter, right-hander David Phelps, will be on a pitch count of 90-95, Girardi said.
Mike Mazzeo is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com.
