Yanks 1B Rizzo gets epidural, out Rays series with back hurt September 2 sharefacebooktwitterredditlink ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo will mi s a pivotal three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend after getting an epidural shot for lingering lower back pain.DJ LeMahieu started Friday night in place of Rizzo, who got the injection a day earlier in California. The Yankees completed a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.Rizzo will rehab Saturday and Sunday in New York and po sibly resume baseball activities Monday. Manager Aaron Boone hasn't ruled out the slugger returning Tuesday.Really optimistic that this is going do the trick and be what helps him Francisco Mejia Jersey moving forward, Boone said before the series opener with the Rays. This is something that should give him a lot of relief the rest of the way this season.The 33-year-old Rizzo has hit 30 home runs this season. He's batting .225 with 71 RBIs.New York, which once Brad Hand Jersey held a 15 1/2-game lead in the AL East, started Friday six up on the Rays.LeMahieu, meanwhile, has been bothered by a toe injury.Three injured starting pitchers are making progre s.Righty Jameson Taillon, hit on the right forearm by a batted ball Tuesday, felt fine after throwing the past two days and expects to make his next scheduled start early next week.Still need to throw a bullpen (Saturday) but as far as I am concerned I should be on schedule, Taillon said. The swelling has gone a lot, still a little bruised but it feels good."Right-hander Luis Severino, out since July 14 with a right lat strain, allowed one hit and struck out three over two scorele Trevor Hoffman Jersey s innings for Single-A Tampa this week. Left-hander Nester Cortes, out with a strained left groin, is scheduled to face hitters Saturday at the Yankees minor league complex in nearby Tampa, Fla.Center fielder Harrison Bader, who hasn't played with New York since being acquired from St. Louis for lefty Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline due to right foot planter fasciitis, is working out in New York.Boone said Bader's running progre sion is continuing and he is doing baseball activities.The big test for him will be over the next week, the final running progre sion, Boone said. He's doing really well.Reliever Aroldis Chapman, on the IL due to a leg infection from a tattoo, is playing catch.WELCOMEYankees SS prospect Oswald Peraza, recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Thursday when rosters were expanded, could make his first major league start Saturday.I mean, youre short for words when you hear that youre finally going into the big leagues," Peraza said through an interpreter. You might have an opportunity to play short for the Yankees. I am short for words to explain how I felt Joey Lucchesi Jersey in the moment, thinking about the path, all the different levels to get here playing the sport since I have been a little kid. So yeah, very exciting."Boone said when Peraza plays is a fluid situation and added that Isiah Kiner-Falefa remains the starting shortstop.Peraza may also get playing time at second.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports in this topic American League Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball Aroldis Chapman Oswald Peraza Luis Severino Jordan Montgomery Harrison Bader Jameson Taillon DJ LeMahieu Anthony Rizzo Isiah Kiner-Falefa Los Angeles Angels Tampa Bay Rays New York Yankees share World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have Austin Allen Jersey drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 9 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Sterling leaves England World Cup camp after home break-in England forward Raheem Sterling has left his teams World Cup camp in Qatar and returned to the U.K. after a break-in at his home 13 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Ronaldo looks to shine like Mbapp and Me si at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldo has been overshadowed by the brilliance of Lionel Me si and Kylian Mbapp so far at the World Cup 37 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Ottawa hosts Los Angeles after Giroux's 2-goal game The Ottawa Senators host the Los Angeles Kings after Claude Giroux's two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks in the Senators' 5-2 win 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Eric Lauer Jersey Penguins host the Blue Jackets following Kapanen's hat trick The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets after Kasperi Kapanen's hat trick against the St. Louis Blues in the Penguins' 6-2 win 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS