Edwin, Sánchez show their readiness to return

ST. PETERSBURG -- Edwin Encarnación and Gary Sánchez took turns pummeling batting-practice fastballs into the seats at Tropicana Field on Tuesday afternoon, the clearest -- and loudest -- sign yet that the Yankees will have both players ready for the American League Division Series.

Manager Aaron Boone plans to have both players activated from the injured list during the series against the Rangers that begins on Friday in Arlington, with Encarnacion likely playing in the opener. The team has not set a date for Sánchez, though he is said to be progressing well.

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“The plan is to get back before the season ends,” Sánchez said through a translator. “We’ve got to follow the plan. The trainers have a plan, and we’ve got to follow that. We’ll have to see what happens.”

Encarnacion last played on Sept. 12, when he sustained a strained left oblique. Boone said that Encarnacion was pushing to play in Wednesday’s game against the Rays, but the Yanks will delay his return in order to take advantage of Thursday’s off-day.

“I'm hoping that it's not a long layoff for him,” Boone said. “Hopefully, with three days of at-bats, he should be able to see some guys. I'm pretty comfortable and confident that he should be able to get into a pretty good rhythm.”

Sánchez has also been shelved since Sept. 12, when he strained his left groin in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of the Tigers. Sánchez’s pregame work on Tuesday included catching bullpens tossed by Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton, and an impressive blast that struck the Trop’s “D” ring.

“I feel good,” Sánchez said. “Everything I did, nothing bothered me, all the activity out there. That’s what you’re looking for.”

Holding out hope for Hicks

Aaron Hicks joined Encarnacion and Sánchez on the field prior to Tuesday’s game, and the switch-hitting outfielder expressed hope that he can return from his strained right flexor tendon at some point during the postseason.

Boone has indicated that Hicks’ return this season is unlikely, though the club says there is increasing optimism that Hicks will be able to avoid surgery. Hicks’ throwing program has increased to 120 feet, and he has also been hitting soft-toss. He’ll need to throw to bases before being cleared to play in Instructional League games.

“I feel like if I get enough at-bats and start to actually get into games, you never know what the possibility could be,” Hicks said. “I’m going to get ready as if I am getting ready to hopefully play in the postseason, but it’s kind of up to the team on that one.”

In Hicks’ absence, the Yankees’ postseason outfield projects to be composed of Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Cameron Maybin.

Bombers bits

Judge returned to duty in right field on Tuesday, having served as the designated hitter in three consecutive games after landing hard on his right shoulder attempting to make a catch on Sept. 18 against the Angels. Boone said that Judge resumed throwing over the last two days. The shoulder has not affected his hitting; Judge was 5-for-11 with two homers after resting a day following the play.

This date in Yankees history

Sept. 24, 2015: Alex Rodriguez became the eighth player in Major League history to score 2,000 career runs, touching the plate in the third inning of a 3-2 victory over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium.