ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - New York Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez was set to play at least part of the series opener in Texas after missing 10 games with left groin tightness, and the club has decided on a cautious approach with Edwin Encarnación's left oblique injury.

Manager Aaron Boone said Sánchez would play roughly five innings, getting two or three plate appearances, against the Rangers on Friday night. Encarnación has missed 11 games since leaving the first game of a doubleheader at Detroit after hitting his 34th home run Sept. 12.

Encarnación is sitting after initial indications that he would play. Boone said "mentally he's probably not quite over that hump where he needs to be." Boone said the concern is a tweak of the injury sidelining the 36-year-old designated hitter and first baseman in the playoffs for the AL East champions.

Gio Urshela was back in the lineup at third base after a day after missing a game in Tampa Bay. Urshela was hit by a pitch on his left hand on Wednesday. He said before the game there was "no pain at all."

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.