KANSAS CITY -- Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin's days in the big leagues sure looked numbered just a few days ago.
His new status as Yankees cult hero for attacking Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly after being hit on purpose in April probably will live on for decades, but he followed his ensuing suspension with an 0 for 19 l, and the timing of the slump was bad.
Greg Bird is close to returning from March ankle surgery, and when he's back he'll be the starter at first. And that means the Yankees, who have been going with a three-or-four man bench all season, almost certainly will be forced to choose to keep just one of their platoon first basemen, Neil Walker or Austin.