NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees have one aging slugger returning, while another will be shelved for a few more days.
Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, 40, is off the disabled list as he is fully recovered from his right hamstring injury. He will bat fifth on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
First baseman Mark Teixeira, 35, will be out for at least the next three days after having a set of cortisone shots in his injured neck. Teixeira, who missed Wednesday night's game, had shots for his neck two weeks ago, as well.
Teixeira, a free agent at the end of the year, is hitting .195 with three homers and 12 RBIs. His OPS is .686. "I just can't move it," Teixeira said. "It's painful."
Teixeira is hoping the shots loosen up his neck and that he can play at Tampa Bay on Sunday. Teixeira already missed Wednesday's game with the injury.
On Thursday, manager Joe Girardi started backup catcher Austin Romine against Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ. Dustin Ackley is Girardi's other main first-base option. At Triple-A, the Yankees have Nick Swisher, but he has struggled at the plate.
The Yankees have played well in Rodriguez' absence, winning 14 of 21 games without him compared to eight of 24 games with him.
A-Rod is hitting .194 with five homers and 12 RBIs. His OPS is .719. In A-Rod's absence, Carlos Beltran excelled at DH, while the Yankees' defense improved with Aaron Hicks starting in right for Beltran.
"He is my DH," Girardi said of Rodriguez. "We DH Carlos, as well. We felt that [A-Rod] maybe wore down at the end of last year. The chances of me playing him seven, eight days in a row are probably not very good. But right now my plan is for him to be my DH. Carlos will play right field and DH, as well."