ST. PETERSBURG -- Yandy Díaz was removed from Tuesday’s game with a left ankle injury, but the Rays expect the infielder to be back in the lineup on Friday against the Giants.

“He’s probably available off the bench, but I would really like to stay away from him,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “But saying that, if we have a chance to win the game and we need his bat, then we’ll do so.”

Diaz, who had his left ankle wrapped postgame but was walking fine around the clubhouse, hurt himself in the first inning of Tuesday's game when he stepped a bit awkwardly on second base. In the eighth inning, Diaz hit a double, but re-aggravated the injury as he took off for second.

“They told me it’s nothing serious,” Diaz said. “I’m feeling better today.”

When asked if he thought the injury would require him going on the injured list, Diaz quickly responded with a “no.”

“I told [Cash] that if he needed a pinch-hitter or something today,” Diaz said. “I’m ready to hit.”

Daniel Robertson, who left the game with a stomach issue on Tuesday, was back in the Rays' lineup on Wednesday and started at third base in place of Diaz.

Glasnow looking forward to hitting in San Francisco

Tyler Glasnow will get his second start of the season when the Rays travel to San Francisco on Friday. Glasnow, who spent parts of the last three seasons with the Pirates in the National League, is excited to get a chance to hit in the lineup.

“I’m decent, in batting practice,” Glasnow joked. “I’m OK in the game. It’s obviously a little harder in the game, shortening up the swing, but I’m pretty confident at the plate.”

Glasnow says there is some difference pitching in the NL due to facing one fewer position player.

“It’s a little different,” Glasnow said. “But at the end of the day, it’s still all the same. It’s baseball.”

Despite being a right-handed pitcher, Glasnow hits from the left side of the plate. In 27 career at-bats, Glasnow has six hits, five of them coming in the 2017 season.