First base has been mostly a black hole for the Yankees this season, with Ben Rice and DJ LeMahieu unable to provide much offense while filling in for Anthony Rizzo who wasnt hitting well even before he went down with a fractured right forearm. But Rizzo is seemingly finally approaching a return from the injury thats kept him out since mid-June. Rizzo said before on Wednesday that he could play in his first rehab game as soon as Friday or Sunday with Double-A Somerset. Anthony Rizzo, who is still recovering from a forearm injury, works on a drill during a workout in late July. Jason Szenes for the New York Post Saying he hadnt felt any discomfort in the arm in over a week and that the strength in the right arm has returned, Rizzo said he would be limited to DH at first, but he will return to first base at some point. It feels good, Rizzo said of the arm. Obviously, the CT scan isnt gonna lie, but it feels good. Well continue to build. Explore More Rizzo is confident the controlled environment of serving as a DH in a rehab game reduces the risk of aggravating the injury and hes ready to give it a shot. This is what I get paid to do: to play, Rizzo said after taking batting practice prior to Wednesdays 8-1 win against Cleveland in The Bronx. I mi s playing. I want to come back and help this team. Elijah Hughes Jersey They need it, as the Yankees have gotten among the worst production from their first basemen all season. With LeMahieu out of the lineup, Rice got just his third start since Aug. 10 and his sixth overall against a lefty on Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Anthony Rizzo, who is recovering from a forearm injury, jogs during a workout in late July. Getty Images In his last nine games, the once-hot Rice is 1-for-23 with four walks and has fanned seven times. Aaron Boone said he held LeMahieu out in part because of the length of Tuesdays 12-inning lo s and also acknowledged LeMahieu hasnt been hitting well again, in a 2-for-19 funk. And Tuesday was another tough night for LeMahieu, as he lined out to center, but then failed to get a run in with the infield in, hit into a double play and popped out with runners in scoring position. LeMahieu had plenty of company in not coming through Tuesday, but his struggles have been more pronounced than just about anyone else on the team. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Alex Verdugo is another Yankee in a slump. He is hitle s in his last 15 at-bats and has just two hits in his last 29 at-bats. Hes been up and down the last couple months after he was a force the first few months, Boone said before the game. Hes such a good hitter [and] hes a young man. I feel like theres a hot streak coming. He keeps working. Right-hander Ian Hamilton (right lat strain) and infielder Jon Berti (calf strain) are scheduled to begin rehab a signments with Double-A Somerset on Friday, where they will be joined by Rizzo and Clarke Schmidt. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (elbow) took batting practice again and said he felt he will be back when hes eligible to come off the IL. Kyle Korver Jersey