Yankees get extra day to evaluate Donaldson's injury; King confident in elbow

The Yankees learned on Wednesday that they will have an unplanned day off because of a storm approaching Baltimore that forced the Orioles to move Thursday’s home opener against the Yankees to 3 p.m. on Friday.

The postponement will allow the Yankees an extra day to evaluate a right hamstring injury suffered by Josh Donaldson in the second inning of Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Phillies at Yankee Stadium. 

Donaldson pulled up as he ran to first on a fly ball to center. He was replaced at third base by Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the top of the third. 

“I felt it tighten up and thought it best to not push it any further,” said Donaldson, who is 2-for-16 on the season. “I think as of right now, we’re going to come in and get it checked (Thursday)."

Asked if he thought he would be able to avoid a stint on the injured list, Donaldson said: “I think we’re just going to kind of see how it responds (Thursday). We’ll go from there.”

Kiner-Falefa, DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera are all capable of playing third if Donaldson is out for an extended period.

King's velocity down

Michael King’s velocity was down a bit when he pitched against the Phillies on Tuesday and allowed two inherited runners to score.

Are the Yankees concerned about King’s surgically repaired elbow?

“Um….,” manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday morning.

After his pause, Boone went on to say that King “feels great. So [is there] any concern? Yeah, maybe a little bit. We believe he’s healthy. I do think it’s a mechanical timing thing.”

King, who suffered a season-ending fractured elbow last July 22, said he and pitching coach Matt Blake are going to take “a deep dive” on his mechanics.

“Luckily, my elbow’s been feeling great,” King said. “It doesn’t feel like it’s anything to do with that.”

Trainer’s room

Carlos Rodon (forearm strain) was expected to throw what Boone called a “high-intensity side” session on Wednesday . . .  Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) played catch. “Came by my office with a smile and a thumbs up,” Boone said . . . Luis Severino (lat strain) may throw a bullpen session this weekend in Baltimore, Boone said.

Hicks sits

Aaron Hicks, after going hitless in his first two starts of the season and hearing it from the Yankee Stadium crowd, was not in the lineup.

Are the Yankees worried that the constant booing from Yankees fans might be negatively affecting Hicks?

“We talked a little bit about it [Tuesday] night,” Boone said. “I do think he’s past that part of it. I kind of believe that. He knows that’s coming . . . I think the fan thing, I think he’s through that phase of [where] that can be a little overwhelming and uncomfortable. I think he’s past that point and just wants to perform.”

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.