TAMPA, FL (AP) -- Yankees pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Sergio Mitre will be sidelined for a few days because of muscle soreness on the left side of their upper bodies.
New York manager Joe Girardi on Monday said both could pitch again later this week.
Mitre was scratched from his scheduled start in Monday night's game against Boston in Fort Myers. He first felt the soreness on Sunday. It is in a different spot than a strained left oblique that sidelined Mitre for 32 games last season.
"A little bit sore and tight yesterday," Mitre said. "Woke up today and I feel good. They don't want to chance it. I pulled an oblique on the same side last year, so we're trying to figure out if it's related."
Mitre is competing with Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and Bartolo Colon for two open rotation spots behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.
"The regular season, we'd probably try to give it a go," Girardi said. "Now, with the history of the oblique strain last year, we just said shut it down a few days and see where you're at. It's not going to sway our decision one way or another."
Mitre hopes to pitch on Thursday.
Promising left-hander Manuel Banuelos was selected to replace Mitre for the contest with the Red Sox. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said the 20-year old is set to start the season with Double-A Trenton.
"This kid does have really good stuff," Girardi said.
Chamberlain is part of what appears to be a strong bullpen that includes closer Mariano Rivera and eighth-inning setup man Rafael Soriano.
Girardi didn't rule out Chamberlain pitching Wednesday or Thursday.
NOTES: Rivera said he will pitch for the second time this spring training on Wednesday. He struck out all three batters he faced in his initial outing Sunday. ... Ace CC Sabathia and RHP Bartolo Colon will take part in a simulated game on Tuesday's off day.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
