Yanks say it's too early to know word on Bird

Port Charlotte, Fla.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone says it's too early to know if first baseman Greg Bird will be sidelined opening day Thursday at Toronto because of inflammation in his right foot.

Boone said the team should learn Bird's status after he's evaluated Monday by a specialist in New York.

Bird was scratched from the starting lineup in a split-squad road game Saturday against Atlanta. Boone said CT and MRI exams showed no structural damage.

If the oft-injured Bird needs to go on the disabled list, Tyler Austin and Neil Walker could get time at first base.

Bird fouled a ball off his right ankle in the Yankees' final spring training game in 2017. He had surgery on the ankle in July and was limited to just 48 games last season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday that the current soreness is in a similar area.

Bird hit .190 overall last year but had eight homers and 25 RBIs in 29 games after returning from the disabled list in late August.

The 25-year old missed all of 2016 after having labrum surgery on his right shoulder.

More Yankees: CC Sabathia allowed three runs, six hits and struck out seven over six innings for Double-A Trenton against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The lefty will start the third game of the season Saturday against the Blue Jays. ... Third baseman Brandon Drury, hit on the left elbow by pitch Friday, is set to play in Monday night's spring training finale at Atlanta.

Mets: Seth Lugo is set to take a spin in the Mets' rotation from the get-go. The team announced that Lugo, reliever Jacob Rhame and utilityman Phillip Evans will be making their first appearances on opening day, each part of the 25-man roster when the Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

More Mets: Yoenis Cespedes hit his sixth spring homer, Jay Bruce also connected and Amed Rosario had two hits, including a two-run triple for New York in a 4-3 victory over a split squad of Astros. Steven Matz threw four shutout innings, striking out four and allowing two hits and a walk.

Red Sox: Mookie Betts hit a pair of home runs and walked, driving in three runs and scoring three for Boston in a 6-1 rout of the Twins. J.D. Martinez had three hits and an RBI for the Red Sox, while Andrew Benintendi homered for a fourth time. David Price made his final spring start for Boston, pitching three innings and allowing one run on one hit, a home run by Brian Dozier.

Cardinals: Pitcher Adam Wainwright will start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring.

Indians: Outfielder Michael Brantley will start the season on the disabled list as he slowly recovers from ankle surgery.

Mariners: Ace Felix Hernandez is set to start on opening day for the 10th straight year when Seattle hosts Cleveland on Thuurday night. ... Lefty Wade LeBlanc has rejoined Seattle, two days after he asked for his release from the Yankees.

Marlins: Top prospect Lewis Brinson has made the opening day roster. Brinson, a center fielder acquired from Milwaukee in the Christian Yelich trade, is batting .328 this spring, with two homers and nine RBIs.

Phillies: Philadelphia and prized prospect Scott Kingery have reached a six-year contract. The deal goes through the 2023 season, and there are also three team options running through 2026.

Cuts: Washington pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, Cincinnati outfielder Ben Revere and St. Louis reliever Jason Motte were cut as big league teams reached a deadline for roster decisions. Minnesota infielder Erick Aybar and Cubs outfielder Peter Bourjos also were released. It was the last day for teams to choose what to do with free agents who later signed minor league contracts. Clubs could either opt to add them to the 25-man roster for opening day, release them or pay a $100,000 retention bonus if they agreed to begin the season in the minors.