NEW YORK -- Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez exited in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-3 loss against the Rays, one inning after he sustained contusions to his right index and middle fingers when he was hit by a foul tip.

X-rays were negative and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Sanchez is considered day to day. Sánchez is expected to sit on Sunday, which will mark backup catcher Kyle Higashioka’s third assignment catching ace Gerrit Cole in four starts.

“I definitely feel better right now than when it happened,” Sánchez said through a translator. “I've gotten more movement in my fingers, so it's definitely so much better right now. If I keep improving the way I'm improving right now, I might be ready to play [Sunday].”

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Randy Arozarena tipped the ball that struck Sánchez’s throwing hand, which was exposed between his legs with no runners on base. Sánchez was in obvious pain but remained in the game, taking his turn at bat in the home half of the fourth inning.

“He usually doesn't have me come out; he usually wears things pretty well out there and waves me off,” Boone said. “I think he just had a little swelling in there. It was affecting him throwing more than hitting, so I just felt like it was best to get them out of there.”

Sánchez expressed confidence that he would be ready to play by Tuesday, when the Yankees open a two-game Interleague series against the Braves.

If Sánchez were to miss time, Higashioka could take over as the starter. The next catcher on the team’s depth chart is 31-year-old Rob Brantly, who attended Spring Training with the Yankees and is working out at the alternate training site in Moosic, Pa.

Veteran Robinson Chirinos is also at the alternate site, but he is recovering from surgery performed in March to repair a fractured right wrist.