Granderson to Return to Lineup Tomorrow Night

After coming through his final rehab assignment without any problems, center fielder Curtis Granderson is expected to return to the New York Yankees lineup on Friday.

Granderson has been out since May 2 with a groin injury. When he returns he will play center field, while Brett Gardner will move back to left. There is a chance that Granderson also could move into the No. 2 hole for the Yankees. The spot has been a revolving door since DH Nick Johnson went to the disabled list earlier this month.

While Joe Girardi wouldn't commit to any lineup order, he did say that he likes Nick Swisher in the sixth hole.

"Swisher is the only one who breaks up the lefties," Girardi said of Swisher, a switch-hitter.

On Thursday night, Gardner batted second.

Granderson is hitting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs.

But right now, who cares what his batting average is. The Yankees need him back in a bad way so they can stop using Randy Winn and Marcus Thames as much as they have been. Granderson is a big key to that lineup and if he can stick in the number two slot, the Yankees lineup will be set.