NEW YORK — Dustin Pedroia tends to treat his on-field accomplishments with a dose of nonchalance. But the Red Sox second baseman was ebullient on Friday night simply because he did play.

Pedroia had missed 29 of the previous 30 games with inflammation in his left knee. He sought several medical opinions and tried different treatments to get back on the field.

Once he did, there was a sense of relief.

“Just being out there was great, and I feel fine today,’’ Pedroia said on Saturday before a 5-1 loss against the Yankees. “That’s the big thing.’’

Pedroia did not play on Saturday, a predetermined decision by the medical staff. His buildup will come in carefully managed stages with the next start coming on Sunday night.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the game,’’ manager John Farrell said.

It’ll be like that for the rest of the season. With an expanded roster, the Sox have the personnel to give Pedroia any days off needed.

“Without a doubt,’’ Farrell said. “Given all that he’s been through with the knee and what he’s battled recently to get back to this point . . . It’s the first time in a while, after seven innings of work, he’s got a smile on his face that he hasn’t had for quite some time.

“We’ll build it out to nine innings and monitor it from there.’’

Pedroia was one of the first players to arrive at the ballpark on Saturday. He settled in on a couch in the clubhouse to get an electric stimulation treatment on his knee.

Have glove, will travel

The Red Sox were not intending to add any players to the roster on Saturday. But after watching Brock Holt hobble around in left field on Friday, the decision was made to summon Tzu-Wei Lin.

Holt had been scheduled to start at second base on Saturday but is still feeling the effects of being hit on top of the left foot by a Dellin Betances pitch on Thursday night.

Lin did not arrive at Yankee Stadium until about 30 minutes before first pitch. Naturally, the first ball the Yankees hit was in the hole. But Lin made a diving stop and threw out speedy Brett Gardner.

Lin also made a solid play to end the second inning, snapping up a hard-hit ball with the bases loaded to get Aaron Hicks. Lin was 1 for 3 at the plate

Holt was available on Saturday but did not play. He has a bruise.

The Sox, who are carrying 33 players, plan to add two more on Sunday.

Bradley returns

Jackie Bradley Jr. was 1 for 3 in his return from a 10-day stint on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb.

Bradley wore a small pad under his glove to cushion the thumb. He also had a brace on his hand when he ran the bases in the eighth inning.

“There’s no problem swinging,’’ he said. “I just need to be careful in the field.’’

Smith on the way

Righthanded reliever Carson Smith will make one more appearance with Triple A Pawtucket before being activated off the DL. He is scheduled to pitch Sunday at Rochester.

Smith has pitched in 10 minor league games since Aug. 5 and has a 6.23 ERA and 1.85 WHIP. He last pitched on Thursday and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk at Buffalo.

“Up until his most recent outing, the sink [of his fastball] and the action of the slider have been consistent with pre-surgery. The velocity hasn’t come back yet,’’ Farrell said. “That’s totally expected on our part. We won’t see that until he goes through a full offseason and gets back in spring training.’’

Because Smith was on a regimented schedule in the minors, the Sox will be careful with how they use him. He would get work in simulated games.

There is little chance Smith will factor into any postseason plans.

Smith is coming back from Tommy John surgery and hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 2016.

Game day

Alabama native Craig Kimbrel wore a University of Alabama football jersey before the game, a tradition of his on game days. Fellow reliever Robby Scott, who attended Florida State, had on a Seminoles jersey.

The teams played Saturday night.

Scott had two friendly wagers on the game. His fiancée, Chelsea Briche, attended Alabama and they decided the winning school’s flag would fly at their wedding in November.

Scott and Kimbrel went with the loser would have to wear the other team’s jersey for a week.

Time warp

If you get to bed a little earlier on Sunday, thank the Yankees. The usual 8:05 p.m. start time for “Sunday Night Baseball’’ on ESPN was moved to 7:35 at the request of the Yankees, who have a day game in Baltimore on Monday . . . Slumping shortstop Xander Bogaerts was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game. The plan is “hopefully’’ to have him return on Sunday, according to Farrell . . . David Price’s next bullpen session is scheduled for Monday . . . Mookie Betts has reached safely in 18 consecutive games but is hitting .232 (16 of 69) in the streak . . . Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk. He is 12 of 31 (.387) at Yankee Stadium this season . . . The Sox promoted outfielder Jeremy Barfield to Pawtucket. The 29-year-old, who was signed out of an independent league, hit .288 with 27 home runs and 75 RBIs in 92 games for Double A Portland. He was 4 for 5 with a home run on Saturday against Rochester. Barfield is the son of former major league All-Star Jesse­ Barfield.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.