Tension is high around the New York Yankees right now. The team has seen their lead in the American League East shrink to just one game and injuries are starting to take their toll. After sliding into first base over the weekend, which is never a good idea, first baseman Mark Teixeira has suffered a calf strain and is expected to miss 10-14 days.
Assuming he makes a full recovery, Teixeira would likely return for the final week of the regular season.
MRI on @teixeiramark25 showed irritation of his Grade 1 left calf strain. He is expected to be unavailable to play for 10-14 days.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 10, 2012
Teixeira had been battling a calf issue since originally suffering a strain at the end of August. He had been attempting to play through the pain, although it appears he came back a little too soon. Instead of rushing back to the field, Tex will make sure he feels stronger and healthy before playing again.
"I thought I could play on it at 80 percent or whatever it was," Teixeira said, according to the Daily News. "I couldn't, so when I come back next time - whether it's two days or a week, whatever it's going to be, I don't know how long it's going to be. I'll just make sure that it's better than 80 percent."
The slugging first baseman is batting .255/.336/.478 with 23 home runs this season.
For more on Teixeira's injury and the Yankees, be sure to check out Pinstripe Bible and Baseball Nation.