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Josh Donaldson left Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Phillies prior to the top of the third inning with right hamstring tightness and will be reevaluated Thursday.

The third baseman said he felt it tighten up as he got to first base on his fly out in the bottom of the second.

He was replaced the following inning by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

After the game, Donaldson said the hamstring was still sore and he may undergo an MRI exam on Thursday.

Aaron Boone added, “I don’t think it’s too severe, but it’s a hamstring. We’ll see [Thursday].”


  Josh Donaldson appears to grimace while rounding first base on April 5, 2023. Twitter Josh Donaldson appears to grimace while rounding first base on April 5, 2023. Twitter

The 37-year-old is off to another poor start with the Yankees, going just 2-for-16 with a homer, walk and six strikeouts. He’d had no issue with the hamstring prior to Wednesday.

“I felt fine going into [Wednesday],” Donaldson said. “It just felt tight going into the bag and I thought it was probably best not to push any further.”

Asked if he anticipated a possible IL stint, Donaldson said, “We’ll try to see how it responds and go from there.”

If he does end up on the IL, the Yankees could call up Oswald Peraza or perhaps use the spot for Jhony Brito, since they’ll need a fifth starter in Cleveland next week.

Donaldson is coming off a career-worst season and is still owed $27 million. He arrived from Minnesota prior to last spring training in the trade that also brought Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt to the Yankees in exchange for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.


  Josh Donaldson is off to a slow start in 2023 for the Yankees. Twitter Josh Donaldson is off to a slow start in 2023 for the Yankees. Twitter

Michael King has started the season with two subpar outings and diminished velocity on his four-seam fastball after missing the second half of last year following elbow surgery.

Asked prior to Wednesday’s game if he was concerned about the right-hander’s health, Boone paused and said “He feels great. [Is there] any concern? Maybe, but I do believe he’s healthy. I do think it’s a mechanical, timing thing.”

Boone said it was “something to pay attention to,” but also noted that King is throwing his two-seamer at it’s normal speed, which would point to a potential mechanical issue with the four-seamer.

“I think it’s gonna be something very subtle,’’ Boone said of possible mechanical issues that may have led to King having allowed eight hits and a walk in three innings, while striking out four.


  Michael King Robert Sabo for NY Post Michael King Robert Sabo for NY Post

There is also the chance of a dead arm, especially since King began season preparation earlier than most pitchers coming off last year’s injury.

The Yankees’ game against the Orioles scheduled for Thursday in Baltimore was postponed due to a forecast of “severe inclement weather” the Orioles announced Wednesday. The game will be made up on Friday at 3:05 p.m.

Boone said it’s not expected to alter the team’s pitching plans, with Clarke Schmidt scheduled to go Friday, followed by Nestor Cortes and Domingo German.

Now that Kiner-Falefa has added the outfield to his résumé, he said he’s going to have to start getting used to the dimensions of all the road stadiums the Yankees go to starting with Camden Yards.

“[Batting practice] isn’t going to be about me hitting and taking grounders much anymore,’’ Kiner-Falefa said. “I’ll mostly be shagging fly balls.”

Carlos Rodon (left forearm strain) was scheduled to face hitters for the first time on Wednesday. Luis Severino, out with a strained right lat, played catch again Wednesday and will travel with the team to Baltimore. Boone said the right-hander may throw his first bullpen session over the weekend since the injury.

Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendinitis) played catch for the first time on Wednesday and reported no issues.

Boone called the difference in DJ LeMahieu’s performance at the plate this season compared to the latter part of last year “night and day.”

“He was a shell of himself at the end of last season,’’ Boone said of the right foot fracture that kept LeMahieu out of the playoffs.

And they want to keep him healthy, which is why Boone has stressed to LeMahieu to take care of his foot in the training room before it may become an issue.

“One of the things we’ve talked about is to make sure he’s getting the soft tissue work done, even when he’s feeling good,’’ Boone said.

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