MLB

Jeter to start another rehab assignment, could rejoin Yankees on Saturday

Derek Jeter will start what is likely at least a two-game rehab assignment tonight.

Jeter, who is on the disabled list and has not played since Aug. 2 because of a strained right calf, will head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and face Pawtucket tonight. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the 39-year-old captain is scheduled to play five innings at shortstop.

Girardi would not commit to a definite number of rehab games for Jeter. Nonetheless, he said being activated for tomorrow’s series opener against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., is unlikely.

“I would think [at least two rehab games],” Girardi said.

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But that doesn’t rule out Jeter being activated as early as Saturday. SWB is home through Saturday, however, so Jeter could play three rehab games there, join the Yankees in St. Petersburg on Sunday, take that day off and be activated on Monday in Toronto.

There could be a little more urgency for Jeter’s return after one of the Yankees’ other shortstops suffered a significant injury last night. Jayson Nix was hit by an R.A. Dickey pitch in the second inning, fracturing his left hand. Nix is likely finished for at least the regular season.

“I feel terrible,” Girardi said. “He’s a guy that just does things right.”

Girardi was unsure of the Yankees’ resulting transaction, but he said immediately activating Jeter to replace Nix is not an option. The most likely move is recalling David Adams since he’s on the 40-man roster.

* Girardi rested Alex Rodriguez in Wednesday night’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays, explaining he did not feel he could play the third baseman both last night and this afternoon.

“It’s probably too much,” he said.

Rodriguez also played both ends of Tuesday’s doubleheader.

Lefty J.A. Happ is set to pitch for Toronto Thursday, and Dickey — a righty knuckleballer — started Wednesday night. That may have influenced Girardi’s decision as well.

* Because David Robertson is involved in a charity competition with — yes — Red Sox righty Ryan Dempster, the Yankee reliever said yesterday, “If people want to get a little payback [for Dempster hitting Rodriguez], they can go to Power of 2 and donate to us.”

Robertson and Dempster are competing through Monday to raise more money for their respective charities in what’s called the “Power of 2.” Whoever loses must arrive at Yankee Stadium in September as a super hero and handle a press conference while wearing the outfit.

Robertson said Dempster has helped him with his charity in the past.

“I want him to raise as much money as possible,” Robertson said, “but I want to win.”

mark.hale@nypost.com