18 Hiroki Kuroda, SP

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday he spoke with trainer Steve Donohue, who assured him starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was fine a day after leaving his start against the Orioles with a bruisted right calf, according to The Star-Ledger. Kuroda said after leaving Wednesday's game he was confident he would make his next start Tuesday against the Mets, and manager Joe Girardi echoed those sentiments.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he expects starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to make his next start Tuesday against the Mets after the right-hander left his start Wednesday against the Orioles with a bruised right calf.

"I would be shocked if he couldn’t make his next start,’’ Girardi said, per the New York Post.

Kuroda also seems confident he will be back on the hill Tuesday.

"It will depend on how it feels [Thursday], but for me I will make the next start,’’ Kuroda said.

Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda, who left the game with a calf injury and is questionable for his next start, took the loss in the 6-3 defeat in Baltimore. 

Kuroda (6-3), who has a 2.67 ERA, was losing 3-1 when he left in the third.

Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda left Wednesday's game against the Orioles with a bruised right calf, the television broadcast of the game on ESPN reported. 

When asked if the injury had anything to do with his back, Kuroda said it did not. He is day-to-day and questionable for his next scheduled start Monday in New York against the Mets. 

Kuroda had his worst outing of the season before leaving Wednesday. He had not allowed a home run in his previous two starts and had allowed one over his last four outings, but surrendered two Wednesday. In fact, entering the start he'd given up three homers all year over 58 2/3 innings. 

Kuroda also allowed the first stolen base against him this season when Nate McLouth took second. Kuroda was 6-2 with a 1.99 ERA entering Wednesday. 

Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda left Wednesday's outing in Baltimore trailing 3-1 and runners on first and third following a Chris Davis single with no outs in the third inning. After being checked by trainers, Kuroda appeared to leave injured. 

Kuroda was hit in the calf by a line drive but remained in the game. Following Davis' single, Kuroda appeared to touch his back in discomfort. His next start is supposed to be Monday at the Mets. 

Kuroda allowed two homers in his two innings. Preston Claiborne's first pitch to Matt Wieters after Kuroda departed was a three-run homer to complete the starter's line. Kuroda allowed five runs on eight hits and no walks with no strikeouts.

The 38-year-old had been New York's best starter entering Wednesday with a 1.99 ERA and 6-2 record over his first nine outings.