"Alex Rodriguez was not with the Yankees on Monday night at Camden Yards, having gone to New York to visit a hand specialist as he continues to nurse a left thumb injury.

A-Rod was examined by Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser and underwent an MRI exam, the results of which revealed no damage. He is expected to join the Yankees in Boston on Tuesday, though his availability for the huge three-game series against the Red Sox remains in doubt.

"I think it's really questionable, but let's just see," Joe Girardi said. "It just depends how that thumb responds to the treatment. He came back and irritated it a little bit more, so we're just going to have to be smart about it."

Rodriguez suffered a jammed thumb on August 21 in Minnesota, landing awkwardly on his glove as he tried to make a diving stop at third base. He missed the next two games before returning to the lineup Thursday, then played Friday night in Baltimore."