TAMPA — Gary Sanchez and Luke Voit were sent back across the state, as planned, following a game Wednesday in West Palm Beach, the first of two for the Yankees on the East Coast of Florida. Tyler Wade also returned to the Yankees home base after reporting hip tightness.
Greg Bird was pulled from the starting lineup Thursday after reporting to work still sore from being hit on his right elbow Wednesday.
That left just two regulars starting against the Cardinals in Jupiter — Gleyber Torres at second and Miguel Andujar at DH.
This is not a “got you” moment that the Yankees lacked the mandatory four regulars in the lineup for a road game, as dictated by MLB in an annual spring bulletin.