New York Yankees

From a depth-chart perspective on the Yankees 40-man roster, manager Joe Girardi already is playing his third option at first base, shortstop and third base, respectively.

Now he may have to at catcher as well.

Chris Stewart pulled up at third after feeling discomfort in his left groin in the seventh inning of Thursday night's loss to the Mariners. He came out after the inning and was sent for an MRI exam. He was only available on an emergency basis Friday. The Yankees said the injury was not serious enough for a DL stint and were willing to go two or three days without using him.

Francisco Cervelli was getting the lion's share of the playing time before he suffered a broken hand. Stewart moved into the starter's role and has played adequately with Austin Romine backing him up. Romine, who will take over the next few games, went 2-for-3 in a 5-0 Yankees win over Toronto on Friday.

"You've got to move forward," Girardi said. "That's the bottom line. Injuries are part of the game and some years you're going to have more than others. Right now we have more than a few. ... It's no excuse. You have to find a way to get it done."

Record:

26-16

Streak:

Won one

Past 10 Games:

7-3

NEXT: Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow, 1-2, 4.69) at Yankees (David Phelps, 1-2, 4.33)

Player Notes:

• RHP David Phelps will make his fourth start in place of Ivan Nova on Saturday Since being placed in the rotation on April 27, Phelps is 0-1 with a 3.44 ERA so far, with the only loss taking place Monday when he allowed a solo home run to Cleveland's Jason Kipnis among four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Phelps has fanned 16 and issued five of his seven walks Monday. Phelps is 1-0 with a 4.57 ERA in five appearances against Toronto. He last appeared against the Blue Jays in relief of Nova on April 26 when he struck out nine and allowed one run and two hits in four innings.

• LHP Andy Pettitte was placed on the disabled list with his second back injury of the season Friday. The DL stint occurs a day after he left with two outs in the fifth inning of Thursday's loss to Seattle. The Yankees decided to place him on the DL to prevent something like his back locking up again in the early innings of a subsequent start. Pettitte does not believe it will be longer than the 15 days but also conceded that he might have to limit to the intensity of his running and bullpen sessions.

• RHP Vidal Nuno will return to the Yankees to fill LHP Andy Pettitte's roster spot. Nuno threw 89 pitches in the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Cleveland and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Nuno was slated to start Saturday for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre but it appears likely he will fill the start Tuesday in Baltimore for Pettitte.

• C Chris Stewart was only available on an emergency basis after being removed in the seventh inning of Thursday's loss to Seattle with a groin injury. The Yankees said the injury was not serious enough for a DL stint and were willing to go two or three days without using him.

• DH Travis Hafner would not have played anyways against LHP Mark Buehrle, but did take batting practice again as he deals with soreness in his right shoulder that kept him out of the previous three games. Hafner has four hits in his last 30 at-bats and was 2-for-17 on New York's eight-game road trip.

• 3B David Adams has hit safely in his first three games, going 4-for-11. He is the first Yankee to do that since Shelley Duncan hit safely in his first four games in July 2007.

Quote To Note:

"I felt good overall, especially when I struck out (Jose) Bautista and (Edwin) Encarnacion.—RHP Hiroki Kuroda after a win Friday.

Medical Watch:

• LHP Andy Pettitte (trapezoid muscle) left his start on May 16. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 17.

• C Chris Stewart (left groin discomfort) left the game May 16. He was only available on an emergency basis May 17 and is expected to miss two or three days.

• DH Travis Hafner (right shoulder tendinitis) was unavailable for a fourth straight game since getting a cortisone injection on May 14.

• INF Eduardo Nunez (left ribcage tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 6.

• RHP Joba Chamberlain (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 14. He will throw long toss May 17 and a bullpen session shortly thereafter before pitching again for Scranton. He could be back with the Yankees during the week of May 20-26.

• 3B Kevin Youkilis (lumbar spine sprain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28. He received an epidural injection April 30. He is feeling better and is hitting off a tee and taking soft toss at the team complex in Tampa.

• RHP Ivan Nova (right triceps inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list April 27. He pitched in extended spring training May 8, throwing four innings while reporting no problems. He felt pain in his left side while playing catch May 12, causing the Yankees to scrap plans to have him return May 13. He will pitch in another extended spring training game on May 20.

• 1B Mark Teixeira (torn tendon sheath in his right wrist) was hurt March 5, and he went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 12. He began taking dry swings with light fungo bat in late April and began contact-hitting drills May 1, starting with tee-and-toss. He was doing baseball activities in Tampa in early May, and he could return by late May or early June.

• C Francisco Cervelli (fractured right hand) went on the 15-day disabled list April 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 1. He is expected to be ready to resume baseball activity in mid-June.

• SS Derek Jeter (left ankle surgery in October 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 27. He was shut down from his rehab program in late April after a CT scan revealed a small fracture in his left ankle area. He was placed in a walking boot, and he isn't expected to return to action until after the All-Star break.

• RHP Michael Pineda (right shoulder surgery in May 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 16. He will throw 50 pitches May 17, either in extended spring training or an intrasquad game. The Yankees want to build his arm strength back up to 100 pitches but believe he will pitch sometime this year.

• 3B Alex Rodriguez (left hip surgery in January) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 13. He began baseball activities May 6, and the Yankees expect to have him back after the All-Star break.

• LHP Cesar Cabral (stress fracture in left elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list March 26. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Tampa on May 14.

Rotation:

Lhp Cc S

abathia

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

RHP Vidal Nuno

RHP Phil Hughes

Bullpen:

RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)

RHP David Robertson

LHP Boone Logan

RHP David Phelps

RHP Adam Warren

RHP Preston Claiborne

RHP Shawn Kelley

RHP Dellin Betances

Catchers:

Chris Stewart

Austin Romine

Infielders:

1B Lyle Overbay

2B Robinson Cano

SS Jayson Nix

3B David Adams

DH Travis Hafner

INF Alberto Gonzalez

Outfielders:

LF Curtis Granderson

CF Brett Gardner

RF Ichiro Suzuki

OF Vernon Wells

OF Ben Francisco