ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Don’t look for Alex Rodriguez in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup anytime soon.
Rodriguez was slid into the “Carl Pavano Memorial MRI Tube” in Tampa today and the results on the third baseman’s strained right quad weren’t good enough for the medical staff to allow the reigning MVP to begin playing in minor-league rehab games.
“I don’t see him playing this week,” Joe Girardi said during batting practice before tonight’s game against the Rays.
That means Rodriguez won’t face the Mets this weekend at Yankee Stadium for three Subway Series games. The earliest Rodriguez could return from the disabled list is May 20, when the Yankees face the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
However, that has to be in doubt because Rodriguez still needs to undergo a third MRI exam to gauge the progress then eventually play in a rehab game or two.
According to Girardi, Dr. Allen Miller, the Yankees’ orthopedic surgeon based in Tampa, requested the MRI exam taken in New York late last month be sent to him so he could compare tests.
“There is progress but he is not where he needs to be,” Girardi said of Rodriguez, who worked out at the minor-league complex. “He will keep doing what he has been doing but he isn’t where he needs to be.”
Rodriguez hasn’t taken a step backward. What the Yankees don’t want is him injuring the leg to the point where he is gone for a long stretch.
“If he is not 100 percent he could risk going back to where he was,” Girardi said. “The MRI doesn’t show it’s healed. We can’t afford to have him for two days and lose him for six weeks. We have to make sure it’s healed.”
Rodriguez underwent the MRI exam in the morning and was on the field a little after 4 in the afternoon. He worked out for an hour, running and playing catch in the outfield and taking BP in the cage. He hit balls out to each field and clubbed a few long homers to right.
“So far, so good,” Rodriguez said. “I am taking it one day at a time.”
The Yankees are 5-6 without Rodriguez, but 1-4 against lefties without his potent bat. Also adding to the difficulty is switch-hitting Jorge Posada being on the DL since April 28with an injured right shoulder.
Girardi was going to start sure-handed Alberto Gonzalez at third base Sunday in Detroit when the game was rained out, and Girardi stuck with Gonzalez tonight with Andy Pettitte on the mound.
The Yankees have used Wilson Betemit, Morgan Ensberg and Gonzalez at the hot corner since Rodriguez went down. Betemit now is on the DL for the second time this year, this time with a right hamstring injury (earlier it was pink eye).