39 Mike Tauchman LF

Tauchman is expected to lose out on everyday at-bats in the near future with Clint Frazier (ankle) set to return from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Mariners, Anthony Rieber of Newsday reports.

Once activated, Frazier and Brett Gardner will likely be assured everyday roles in the outfield, with the final spot falling to either Tauchman or Cameron Maybin. Because Maybin has been the better performer of the two over the past week, he'll likely have superior odds of sticking as the third outfielder, though both Maybin and Tauchman will be relegated to bench roles when Aaron Hicks (back) potentially returns to make his season debut this weekend. Unlike Maybin, Tauchman -- who is slashing .176/.282/.392 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 85 plate appearances -- has a minor-league option remaining, so he could be sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once the Yankees reclaim some health.

Tauchman is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants.

It appears as though Tauchman may simply be receiving an off day after a late-night game Friday. The versatile outfielder has gone 2-for-20 over the last five games, but it doesn't look like he's in danger of losing playing time for now with Aaron Judge (oblique), Giancarlo Stanton (shoulder), Aaron Hicks (back) and Clint Frazier (ankle) still on the injured list. Thairo Estrada will start in left field, batting eighth, while Cameron Maybin will start at right fielder, batting seventh.

Tauchman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Yankees' 6-2 win over the Royals on Friday.

The 28-year-old outfielder has now homered twice in his last three starts after this fifth-inning solo shot off Jakob Junis. He still has just a .192 average in his 26 at-bats since getting called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he does boast a healthy .538 slugging percentage over that small sample size.

Tauchman is hitting seventh and playing left field against the Royals on Friday.

Tauchman was out of the lineup for the first time in three games Thursday, but he'll slide back into the seven spot in the order for this tilt with Kansas City. He has three hits in his last eight at-bats -- including his first career homer, which he hit against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Tauchman went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double and four RBI in the Yankees' 8-0 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Tauchman had a huge day out of the ninth spot in the order, driving in half of his team's runs, most of which came on a three-run blast he cranked off Erasmo Ramirez in the sixth inning. It was the first MLB homer for the 28-year-old, who was able to boost his average up to .200 and his slugging percentage to .500 over his 20 at-bats.