MLB

Yankees swap A-Rod, Cano in order

Yankees manager Joe Girardi insisted the lack of productivity from Robinson Cano in the third spot and Alex Rodriguez in the fourth hole didn’t play a role in flipping them in the lineup yesterday, a move Girardi said will be permanent against right-handed starters this season.

Girardi will stay with switch-hitter Nick Swisher second against lefty starters and he will be followed by Cano and Rodriguez.

The Yankees’ manager was aware Cano and Rodriguez were not delivering, but he was more concerned teams would bring a lefty reliever to face left-handed hitters Curtis Granderson and Cano in late-game situations.

YANKEES BOX SCORE

“We saw what Tampa did to us, bringing in the lefty to face the two lefties in a row. We did it last year in the playoffs, Detroit had one lefty, Phil Coke, and it presented different challenges,’’ Girardi said. “We thought about doing it, we wanted to see the two lefties together. We could have done it Wednesday [in Baltimore] but I assumed after [Troy] Patton had thrown two days in a row that he wasn’t going to throw. The plan was to do it Wednesday but after the way the games turned out Monday and Tuesday, I changed my mind.’’

On April 6 in St. Petersburg, Fla., the Rays brought lefty J.P. Howell in to face Granderson to open the sixth inning. Granderson hit a soft line drive for an out and Howell retired Cano on an infield pop.

“I feel with some clubs that have two left-handers or one left-hander it makes it difficult to negotiate,’’ Girardi said. “We will go with this and make it more difficult to bring the left-hander in. This is what we are going to use.’’

* Michael Pineda will throw a bullpen session Tuesday and Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch in a Single-A game for Tampa tomorrow.

It will be Pettitte’s third outing against other teams in his comeback effort. Pineda is on the disabled list with tendinitis in the back of his right shoulder and is not expected back this month.

* Robinson Cano has moved into Jorge Posada’s old locker at the far end of the Yankees’ clubhouse.

“It’s an honor to be in his locker, said Cano, who stated Posada told him to make him proud.

CC Sabathia moved to the left and is in A.J. Burnett’s old space.

* Manuel Banuelos, considered by some the Yankees’ top pitching prospect, is on the Triple-A disabled list. According to general manager Brian Cashman, the lefty will miss one start due to a latissimus muscle issue in his back.