NEW YORK -- Although Brett Gardner has been out of the Yankees' starting lineup for four straight days with right knee inflammation, he and manager Aaron Boone seem confident that the outfielder will avoid a trip to the disabled list.
After having a successful workout and taking 30-40 swings in the cage prior to Tuesday's game, Gardner felt that he was ready to start against the Mariners on Wednesday, but Boone was not quite ready to rush the 34-year-old back into the lineup.
"I communicate all the time with Gardy, my thoughts, when I'm giving him a day," Boone said. "I think we're on the same page in regards to how we're dealing with it. Just want to get through the pregame today and the hitting. The running already went well. I feel like we're in a good place and he'll be an option. We'll see tomorrow and the next day."
Gardner had an MRI exam over the weekend that came back clean. He said that he did not need to get his knee drained or receive any injections, but he has been taking medication and receiving routine treatments to reduce the inflammation. Gardner could be an option off the bench on Wednesday night, but Boone said he will probably stay away from using the outfielder on Wednesday and will likely give him Thursday off because left-hander James Paxton will get the start.
"I thought today was realistic, but I think that they're just -- I haven't sat down and talked to Booney too much in detail yet -- I think they're just playing it safe, to be honest," Gardner said. "But, I'm encouraged by the way I feel."
Gardner's right knee started acting up in Saturday's game against the Rays, but he could not pinpoint a specific time or play that cased the agitation. Gardner has not been placed on the DL since 2012, when he spent over five months recovering from a right elbow strain that required surgery to remove a bone spur.

Injury update: Tanaka
Masahiro Tanaka has been on the DL since June 9 with mild strains in both hamstrings. The right-hander has played catch multiple times, but Boone said a schedule has not been made for the starter to get back on the mound.
"He's progressing pretty well," Boone said. "I don't know when we plan to get him on the mound. That'll be a conversation we'll probably have today after seeing him. He was on the bike again earlier when I saw him about an hour ago. So we'll sit down and see what the next course of action is for him. But he's doing pretty well in progressing the right away."
This date in Yankees history
June 20, 1934: The Yankees swept the Indians, 3-2 and 3-0, at Yankee Stadium. Lou Gehrig won Game 1 with a ninth-inning walk-off home run after a Frank Crosetti solo homer tied it in the eighth. Red Ruffing held the Indians to one hit in Game 2.