OAKLAND, Calif. — Gio Urshela said he still felt good after his first two games back from his stint on the injured list for a strained left hamstring.
But Urshela was held out of the lineup for Saturday’s game, with manager Aaron Boone saying it was part of the plan to build up the third baseman gradually.
In Urshela’s place, the Yankees went with Rougned Odor against Oakland right-hander Frankie Montas, with Tyler Wade remaining on the bench. Boone said he liked Wade’s defensive versatility, as well as his speed, in a reserve role.
Urshela said he would be able to play every day soon and was just working on getting his timing back at the plate.
“My body feels good,’’ said Urshela, who sat out 23 games with the hamstring injury after suffering a setback in his rehab. “I’m not limited. I’m 100 percent.”
Shortstop Gleyber Torres will take another step in his comeback from a strained left thumb when he begins a scheduled rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Somerset.
Andrew Velazquez has filled in well for Torres, serving as an upgrade with his glove and providing some timely hitting.
Velazquez entered Saturday in a 10-for-32 stretch, with seven runs, three doubles, a triple, a homer and six RBIs in his previous 10 games.
After going hitless in four straight games, Anthony Rizzo was 3-for-9 with a double, walk and RBI in his past two games entering Saturday. He has continued to strike out a lot, with six in four games. In 14 games as a Yankee, Rizzo has just a pair of extra-base hits in 62 plate appearances.
Corey Kluber will take Andrew Heaney’s spot in the rotation when the Yankees open their series at the Angels on Monday. Heaney could come in after Kluber, since Kluber isn’t totally built back up as a starter, having thrown 60 pitches in his final rehab start with Somerset.
Boone said the Yankees will stay in rotation, with Jameson Taillon going against Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday and Gerrit Cole starting Wednesday.
Boone entered Saturday with 312 wins as Yankees manager, one shy of Buck Showalter’s total with the team.
“I love Buck,’’ Boone said. “That guy’s done a lot in this game, in this chair and this was only one of his stops.”
Aaron Judge entered Saturday with multiple hits in his previous four games — a career-high. He also had reached base in 19 straight games prior to Saturday. It’s his longest such streak since a 21-game span in 2018.