MLB

Jeter may not return to Yankees lineup Saturday

ARLINGTON, Texas — Derek Jeter is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday but don’t look for him to be in the Yankees’ lineup against the Rays.

Though Jeter has been making progress with his right quadriceps injury by doing more running and regularly taking batting practice and ground balls, manager Joe Girardi said before Wednesday night’s 3-1 loss to the Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington that he isn’t optimistic about having Jeter play short or as the designated hitter.

“I am not so sure we will see him Saturday,’’ Girardi said before Jeter took batting practice, worked out at short and tested the leg with short bursts of running in the outfield grass Wednesday. “You have got to be able to run at 100 percent without soreness or pain and make sure everything works.’’

Jeter hasn’t run the bases, but Girardi said he could do that today or tomorrow at Yankee Stadium.

“He is getting better, and we will continue to evaluate every day,’’ Girardi said.

Jeter returned from two fractured bones in his left ankle July 11 but lasted less than a full game because of the quadriceps injury.

* Robinson Cano said he was happy for Dustin Pedroia signing an eight-year contract extension for $110 million to remain with the Red Sox.

“It’s good for him, he wants to stay there,’’ said Cano, who is expected to dwarf that deal when he becomes a free agent after the season. “I never say it’s a good contract or a bad contract because you have to do what’s best for your family.’’

* The Yankees recalled infielder David Adams from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace infielder Luis Cruz, who went on the DL with a right knee sprain.

During Adams’ first stint with the Yankees, he started 39 games at third. He likely will play third at some point, and Girardi said he might play him at another position.

“I will probably get Adams in there somewhere [today],’’ Girardi said. “I am not saying third base, but I will probably get him in there somewhere. Then I will kind of work it as time goes on.’’

Because the Rangers are starting lefty Derek Holland Thursday, Girardi could give Robinson Cano, who has started all 101 games (96 at second base), a breather in the smothering Texas heat.

* Curtis Granderson will return Thursday night in his first rehab game. He is scheduled to start in left field and play five innings for the High-A Tampa Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.

Granderson did defensive work and conditioning yesterday in Tampa, and had six at-bats in his third simulated game. He expects to play in Tampa through Sunday and then will be reevaluated.

Granderson said he has made progress, but that he still does not know when he expects to return to the Yankees.

“Everything else is good. Now it’s just a matter of innings, so hopefully sooner than later,” Granderson said. “I’m excited to go [tonight]. It kind of came up on me quickly over the past week.

“Things are getting good. The main thing now is at-bats and now having game at-bats is obviously going to be a good thing. I only had three [simulated] games, but [yesterday] was probably the best of the three, which you’d expect. [Tonight’s] going to be a whole new thing.”

Granderson has appeared in just eight games this season and hasn’t played since May 24 because of a broken left pinkie.

* Jayson Nix will join Granderson in the rehab game after seeing his first game-action Wednesday with the Gulf Coast League Yankees in Tampa.

Nix, who hadn’t played since July 1 because of a hamstring injury, played third base and batted third, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a hit by pitch.

* David Phelps threw 61 pitches in a rehab start Tuesday. He will throw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium tomorrow and then make another rehab start. Phelps is on the DL with a strained right forearm.

— Additional reporting by Howie Kussoy in Tampa

george.king@nypost.com