"Alex Rodriguez fielded ground balls during batting practice prior to Tuesday night's Yankees-Red Sox game at Fenway Park but will not swing a bat until Thursday.

"It's just a matter of it healing.'' said Rodriguez, who suffered the injury fielding a grounder on Aug. 21. He said the taped thumb didn't bother him during yesterday's exercise.

Rodriguez received a cortisone shot Monday in New York where he underwent an MRI exam that didn't unearth structural damage.

Coming out of Baltimore, where he reinjured the thumb in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, it was believed Rodriguez would miss the three games against the Red Sox and return Friday night against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. However, if Rodriguez feels discomfort swinging the bat for the first time since Sunday, he likely won't be in the lineup again.

Eduardo Nunez started at third base Wednesday night when Eric Chavez, who drove in two runs Monday, was the DH.

"Chavy had that foot issue and thought I would get him off his feet,'' Joe Girardi said."