For the third straight game, New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice remained out of the lineup Wednesday with a left hand contusion sustained Sunday fielding a pickoff throw from Max Fried.
Rice initially told reporters the injury was not serious and expected quick recovery; however, his continued absence has fueled fan speculation about a potential stint on the injured list.
Paul Goldschmidt has started at first base in Rice's absence, going 2-for-4 with a home run during Tuesday's 7-4 victory against the Rangers, as the Yankees won 15 of their last 17 games.
The New York Yankees lost 6-1 to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, with pitcher Nathan Eovaldi delivering a dominant performance that cooled the Yankees' offense for the second time in eight days.
Thursday afternoon's series finale at Yankee Stadium features MacKenzie Gore facing Ryan Weathers in a left-hander matchup, while the team awaits clarity on Rice's recovery timeline.