Yankees get Didi Gregorius injury news they want to hear

Right now, the Yankees may have more talent on the injured list than the starting lineup.

But Didi Gregorius brought some balance.

Following a week in which Luke Voit, Aaron Hicks and Edwin Encarnacion joined the crowded Yankees injured list, Gregorius avoided the same fate, and returned to the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox after missing the previous three games with a finger injury on his left hand.

Gregorius, who had been out since suffering a strain between his ring and pinkie fingers while fielding a ground ball in Wednesday’s win over the Diamondbacks, took grounders and batting practice in between Saturday’s day-night doubleheader against Boston, and reported no discomfort.

Aaron Boone had considered using Gregorius during Saturday’s nightcap, but opted to rest the shortstop another 24 hours.

“My understanding is, when he went out and took ground balls and everything in between games, all went well,” Boone said. “When I talked to him [Saturday] night, he felt pretty good about where he was at. We’ll be mindful of it, we’ll watch him closely, but we feel like he’s in a good spot.”

Gregorius’ fifth season in The Bronx has largely been spent on the injured list, having missed the first two-plus months of the season — debuting on June 7 — after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October. Limited to just 39 games, the 29-year-old was batting .271 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs, but was batting .071 (1-for-14) in his previous four games.

Batting third Sunday, Gregorius was one of the few bats Boone expected to use when the season started.

Gio Urshela, who was designated for assignment by two different teams last season, and was a .225 lifetime hitter, batted cleanup. Brett Gardner batted fifth for just the third time in his career. Cameron Maybin, playing for his 10th team in six years, hit sixth. Mike Ford batted seventh, carrying 30 career at-bats. Kyle Higashioka brought his .150 lifetime average with him behind the plate. Mike Tauchman, who spent most of May and June in the minors, was back in left field.

In a season defined by makeshift lineups, Boone was forced to set a new standard — and fortunate to avoid another contingency plan.

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