FORT MYERS, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain and Sergio Mitre both have been sidelined with tightness in their left oblique muscles, but the Yankees say neither injury is serious.
Chamberlain felt some discomfort after throwing a pitch Friday. Chamberlain worked out yesterday and said he felt fine. The hope is the reliever can throw in a game tomorrow or Thursday.
Mitre was scheduled to start last night’s game against the Red Sox, but was scratched yesterday morning in favor of Manuel Banuelos. Mitre woke up with tightness in the muscle Sunday, but he still wanted to pitch last night.
Considering he missed five weeks last year with a strain in the same oblique, the Yankees opted to be cautious and keep him out. They hope he can pitch in Thursday’s game.
“I wanted to [pitch],” Mitre said. “I told them it was just a little soreness, just a little treatment and I’ll be fine. They just decided to take a couple more days and be on the safe side.”
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the setback will not affect Mitre’s standing in the race for the final two spots in the rotation. The Yankees believe the injury will cost Mitre a few days, not weeks.
“Right now it’s a low-level concern,” general manager Brian Cashman said.
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Girardi said he could announce in which order A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes will pitch in the regular season as soon as tomorrow. Girardi said the staff has talked about it, but no final decision has been made.
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Former Yankee Alfredo Aceves was the starting pitcher for the Red Sox. The Yankees non-tendered him in the offseason. Aceves missed almost all of last year because of a back injury. Despite repeated epidural shots, Aceves did not pitch after May 8.
“He’s got a back condition,” Cashman said. “We could not get him healthy. I’ll leave it at that.”
It appears Aceves will begin the season at Triple-A for the Red Sox and they view him as someone who gives them pitching depth.
Aceves threw three innings, allowing three hits, one run and one walk and striking out one in the Red Sox’ 2-1 victory. In an interesting coincidence, the Yankees signed Aceves and Banuelos at the same time out of Mexico in 2008.
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A bird hit and shattered the windshield of the Yankees’ staff bus on the way to Fort Myers last night. They were able to make it to the stadium, but needed a replacement bus to get back to Tampa.
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Today is an off day for most of the Yankees, but pitchers CC Sabathia and Bartolo Colon will throw a simulated game this morning. Girardi said he expects them to throw 80-85 pitches. . . . Dellin Betances had a rough outing, giving up two runs on two hits, two walks and two wild pitches. . . . Reliever Mark Prior did not make the trip last night because he was ill.