Yankees' Gardner to miss 3rd straight game Friday

Brett Gardner will miss a third consecutive game Friday amid continued discomfort in his right wrist, as the New York Yankees open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Gardner expressed optimism earlier this week that he might be able to play in Friday's series opener, but the 31-year-old was omitted from the lineup after an MRI revealed a bone bruise in his right wrist.

"I'm definitely happy it feels the way it does," Gardner told Ryan Hatch of NJ.com on Wednesday. "Headed in the right direction."

Gardner, who's hitting .261/.393/.435 through his first six games in 2015, has battled discomfort in his wrist since being hit with a pitch in Monday's 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles.