Yankees' DJ LeMahieu could play Wednesday

TORONTO — DJ LeMahieu’s return to the Yankees’ lineup suddenly is imminent after it was shrouded in uncertainty for much of the last several weeks.  

“There’s a chance he could be in play tomorrow,” Aaron Boone said, referring to the series finale against the Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre. “If not, I might push it until Friday when we open up [at home] against the Orioles. But we’re about that point of, let’s give this thing a go.”

LeMahieu, on the injured list since Sept. 8 with right big toe inflammation that has been bothering him much of the season’s second half, was on the field taking early batting practice at about 2:30 p.m. and then ran the bases.

“Everything’s great,” the low-key and rarely verbose LaMahieu said with a smile after the early work session.  He later took regular BP with his teammates.

“A little more intensity [with the pregame work] and that’s been happening the last couple of days and I think everyone’s been encouraged, most importantly DJ, that it’s been moving in the right direction,” Boone said.

LeMahieu has said the toe isn’t something that will be completely pain-free the rest of the season and that it will be a matter of managing that discomfort whenever he does come back. Especially when he’s at the plate, which is when he feels it the most.

“If I can’t get my swing off, then I’m kind of useless,” LeMahieu said last Friday after his pregame work at the Stadium.

Boone said he doesn’t foresee there being any restrictions on LeMahieu when he is activated, but he couldn’t say for sure, either.  

“No, I don’t think so. We’ll see if there’s anything that does hold him back,” Boone said. “But I think this is all probably just going to be hitting-related. Can he handle it, can he hit at a level he needs to, we need him to, to be able to do it? We’ll see.” 

Blue Jays grounded

The Blue Jays ran themselves out of possibly getting back in the game in the sixth inning of their 5-2 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday night.

With the Yankees leading 5-1, one out and George Springer on first, Bo Bichette lined a drive to right-center for what appeared to be a certain double. He clearly beat Aaron Judge's throw to second, but  Isiah Kiner-Falefa kept the tag on his leg as he got up, and when Bichette lost contact with the bag for a split-second, he was ruled out. That left Springer at third.

On the next pitch, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit what he thought was a two-run homer to leftfield, but it ricocheted off the base of the wall. Guerrero didn't run at full speed out of the box, and Aaron Hicks' perfect throw to second nailed him for the third out.

Two pitches, two line drives, two apparent doubles, two outs instead.

Extra bases

Giancarlo Stanton struck out four times Tuesday night, leaving him at 1-for-13 with 10 strikeouts in his last three games. Since hitting a walk-off grand slam last Tuesday, he is 4-for-23 with 13 strikeouts.