The scuffling New York Yankees enter Tuesday's game at Tampa Bay a game under .500, in fourth place in the AL East and looking nothing like a possible playoff team.
And now they won't have their best player back for at least another week.
The Bombers had hoped to get Alex Rodriguez (right quadriceps injury) back for this weekend's Subway Series against the Mets. But Rodriguez had a second MRI test on his leg on Monday, and while manager Joe Girardi said the leg was improving, it has not made as much progress as the Yankees hoped.
Rodriguez will continue to take ground balls and batting practice at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, as he did on Monday. But he has not been cleared to play in extended spring training games, and he will not return to the Yankees when he is eligible on Thursday.
"It's still not where it needs to be," Girardi said. "It just doesn't show it completely healed. I don't see him playing this week."
Girardi did not rule out Rodriguez playing in extended spring training games in a few days. He did, however, rule out the idea of Rodriguez returning for the Mets series.
Rodriguez has been on the disabled list since April 30; he initially injured the quad on April 20, and after missing three games, he returned to the lineup for four games before aggravating the injury on April 28. An MRI taken the next day showed a Grade 2 strain, which is a pretty significant tear.The earliest the reigning AL MVP likely would return is next week against the Orioles; A-Rod is targeting May 22. A third MRI likely will be taken at some point, though that date has not yet been set.
This is Rodriguez's first stint on the DL since a right knee strain sidelined him for half of July 2000. He is batting .286 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 92 at-bats this season.
"We can't afford to have him come back for two days, then lose him for another six weeks," Girardi said. "We have to make sure he's healed."
The Yankees, who are 5-7 without Rodriguez, look to avoid a second straight loss to the surging Rays on Tuesday night. New York starts ace Chien-Ming Wang in hopes of ending Tampa Bay's franchise record 10-game home winning streak, and the Yankees are -143 money line betting favorites on WagerWeb.com, with an over/under of 8.5 runs.
Wang (6-1, 3.12) has won six of his last seven starts against Tampa Bay, posting a 2.03 ERA in that span.
Edwin Jackson (2-3, 4.04 ERA) starts for Tampa Bay. The inconsistent right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings against Toronto on Thursday, rebounding from his shortest start of the season on May 2, when he
gave up six runs to Boston in just four innings.
Jackson has split two starts against the Yankees this season, allowing six runs in 11 innings.
The Rays have allowed only seven runs in their last six home games.
Betting trends: Yankees are 2-8 in their last 10 games as a favorite. ... Yankees are 8-1 in Wang's last 9 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game. ... Rays are 8-0 in their last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter. ... Rays are 1-4 in Jackson's last 5 home starts vs. a team with a losing record. ... Under is 17-4 in Yankees' last 21 games following a loss. ... Over is 6-1-1 in Wang's last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. ... Under is 9-0 in Jackson's last 9 home starts. ... Yankees are 6-1 in Wang's last 7 starts vs. Rays. ... Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
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