HOUSTON _ Without directly saying so, Joe Girardi indicated that Matt Holliday will be returning to the Yankees' lineup.
And likely sooner rather than later.
"Stay tuned," Girardi said with a slight smile Thursday afternoon, referring to potential playing time for the 37-year-old DH against the Astros in the ALCS.
Holliday, who could get the nod in Game 1 against Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel, did not play in the Yankees' five-game ALDS victory over the Indians. He has not appeared in a game since Oct. 1 against Toronto, when he went 1-for-4 with a home run. Jacoby Ellsbury and Chase Headley shared DH duties in the Cleveland series and combined to go 0-for-16.
"We're going to look at it on a daily basis, what we think is the best thing to do, and you go from there," Girardi said of his DH plans for the series.
Holliday, signed to a one-year, $13-million contract before the season, hit .231 and slugged .432 with 19 homers in 105 games this season. A viral infection suffered in mid-June interrupted a promising season. After returning July 14, Holliday hit .179 with four homers in 37 games.
