June 03--ARLINGTON, Texas -- Sox first baseman Jose Abreu will miss his third straight game with a bruised right index finger when the Sox take on the Rangers on Tuesday night in the series opener at Globe Life Park.
Abreu was pulled from Friday night's game against the Astros because his finger became so swollen he couldn't play. Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the swelling has gone down, but a bruise below his knuckle remains.
Hahn didn't rule out a return for Abreu on Wednesday and said they will re-evaluate him when he resumes baseball activities before Wednesday's game.
"He's definitely improving. It's just not quite to the spot where we want to put him out there in games," Hahn said. "It's certainly not something that we want to rush him back out there and then turn this into an even longer absence that it's already been. We'll err on the side of caution, and if that means also sitting out tomorrow, then we'll adjust accordingly."
Abreu said over the weekend that he hoped to return Tuesday, but Sox manager Robin Ventura said Abreu also understands being cautious with the injury is better for him.
"He could go out there, and he wants to go out there," Ventura said. "But I think he realizes what's best for our team is for him to be healthy for a period of time instead of reinjuring it, being out five more days and having to go through the same thing again."
