Tex on target for Sunday; roster ramifications unclear

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mark Teixeira singled in five Minor League at-bats on Friday and is moving closer to being activated by the Yankees, who are planning on having him in the lineup on Sunday against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Teixeira, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring, played five innings at first base on Friday at the Yankees' Himes Avenue complex. He is scheduled to play seven innings on Saturday.

"Another good day," Teixeira told The Associated Press. "Couldn't be happier with how it's progressing."

Teixeira injured his hamstring while reaching for a foul ball on April 4 in Toronto.

"Just as long as he's feeling good, I think, is the important thing," manager Joe Girardi said. "So far, everything has been good."

Girardi said that the Yankees have not yet decided who will come off the 25-man roster to make room for Teixeira.

"There's too much that can happen in two days," Girardi said. "We'll figure that out when we have to."

Teixeira will have company on Saturday at the complex; right-hander David Robertson (left groin strain) is scheduled to pitch in a game as he prepares to be activated from the DL on Tuesday.

Infielder Brendan Ryan (cervical spine nerve injury) is also in game action, tuning up to join the big league club sometime in May.

"It's nice to be almost a player again," said Ryan, who played in his last Spring Training game on March 4. "It's coming along great."