Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria should be back in the starting lineup for series against Yankees

Longoria should be in lineup by Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is likely to return to the starting lineup by Saturday.

Longoria, who left Tuesday’s game with tightness in his left hamstring, didn’t start Thursday against Kansas City for the second straight day. The top AL vote-getter for this year’s All-Star game is available to pinch hit.

Before the game, Longoria threw, hit in the batting cage and did some light running. He said afterward that he’d be ready in “a day or two.”

Tampa Bay opens a four-game series at the New York Yankees on Friday night.