It is unclear if Stanton will become the full-time DH when he returns. Rice, a first baseman and catcher by trade, recently took reps at third base; the Yankees lost third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera to a severe ankle injury last week.

With persistent championship-or-bust expectations, the Yankees are virtually guaranteed to try to improve their roster before the trade deadline. And one area in need of a boost has been unaddressed since well before opening day.

The New York Yankees are building on their division lead as their pitching staff catches up to the offense. After the injury losses of Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil to start the season, the Yankees' rotation had struggled to stay afloat in the first weeks of the season.