ST. LOUIS -- Mark Teixeira was held out of the New York Yankees' 7-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday for the third straight game as a precaution for inflammation in his right wrist.
Teixeira and manager Joe Girardi said they don't believe the injury is serious. Teixeria is scheduled for a check-up with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Raskin, during the Yankees' off-day Thursday.
"It's still just a little bit sore so we didn't put him in there today," Girardi said.
If all goes right, Teixeira is expected to return to the Yankees' lineup when they face the Minnesota Twins in the Bronx on Friday. Teixeira said Dr. Raskin told him in a phone conversation that he is "99 percent" sure the injury is nothing more than inflammation.
This is normal residue due to surgery on the wrist that forced him to miss all but 15 games in 2013, Teixeira said.
On Wednesday, in St. Louis, everyday catcher Brian McCann is making his major league debut starting at first base. McCann has played the position three times as a replacement in blowouts this season.
McCann last started at first base in high school.
"I feel comfortable for a game," McCann said.
Girardi said he didn't think he would regularly use McCann as the backup first baseman. That job still belongs to Kelly Johnson, who was starting at third on Wednesday.
Girardi also chose to give Derek Jeter and rookie third baseman Yangervis Solarte the start off.
Girardi hopes to refresh his left side of the infield with Wednesday's rest and Thursday's off-day.
During the first eight games of the nine-game road trip, Jeter was 10-for-36 -- including one four-hit day -- while Solarte was 6-for-31.