Encarnacion, Happ returning to New York after suffering injuries vs. Tigers

Another game, another injury for the New York Yankees.

Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion exited Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers with a left oblique strain, the team announced. He's returning to New York for further testing.

It's not clear when or how Encarnacion sustained the injury. He homered in the third inning of the Yankees' doubleheader opener at Comerica Park, then took a walk in the fifth. He appeared to be grimacing at various points during his fifth-inning at-bat and was even checked by trainers at first base.

Though he remained in the game to run the bases in the fifth, Mike Ford pinch-hit for Encarnacion in the seventh inning.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Encarnacion also appeared to be having his wrist examined in the dugout, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. He missed a month of action after fracturing his right wrist in August.

Manager Aaron Boone, who spoke between ends of the doubleheader, said Encarnacion first felt the issue early in the game, according to Newsday's Erik Boland. Boone added the team doesn't currently think it's a serious injury.

"My understanding (is) he was fine swinging, he was just getting (it) a little when he was coughing or whatever," Boone said, according to ESPN's Marly Rivera. "So again, we hope it's minor and we got ahead of it, but we won't know until we get him checked out, obviously."

The 36-year-old slugger, whom New York acquired from the Seattle Mariners in June, is hitting .244/.344/.531 with 34 homers and 86 RBIs this season. He's hit safely in all but two games since returning from his wrist injury on Sept. 3, crushing four home runs in that span.

Encarnacion wasn't the only Yankees player hurt in Thursday's game. Starting pitcher J.A. Happ exited the game and has also returned to New York to consult with doctors after dealing with biceps tendinitis over his "last few starts," Boone said, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

As with Encarnacion, Boone was optimistic about Happ's status.

"We feel he's gonna be fine moving forward," the manager said.

Happ, 36, threw just 4 2/3 innings Thursday before exiting, but the veteran left-hander believed he could have continued.

"I definitely wanted to pitch," he said, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.

Injuries have been a constant for the Yankees this season. Though starter Luis Severino will return next week and Giancarlo Stanton could follow him, New York is likely heading into the playoffs without several key bats. Aaron Hicks' season is in serious jeopardy due to an elbow injury and Mike Tauchman is unlikely to return after suffering a Grade 2 calf strain against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.