Derek Jeter gets another day off with tight quadriceps

When Derek Jeter gets one day off, that's a story.

When he gets two in a row -- that's a big story.

And that's what happened Sunday night as Jeter sat against the Red Sox with what manager Joe Girardi said was a 'tight' right quadriceps muscle.

Girardi said Jeter first felt the injury during Friday night's 4-2 loss to Boston. The retiring captain played the entire game before taking a planned day off Saturday.

Sunday night's was not planned. Girardi said that because the Yankees are off Monday, he decided to give his 39-year-old shortstop three straight days of rest.

Jeter was available Sunday night in an emergency, according to Girardi. He said no tests were planned and that he hopes to have him back in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs.

'Friday early in the game, his quad got a little tight, but he played the whole game,' Girardi said. 'Saturday was a scheduled day off, no matter what. I'd say about the fifth, sixth, seventh inning, I started thinking, you know, it probably would make sense to give him one more day because it buys him two more days.'

Girardi said Jeter was 'not real happy' about being told he was not going to be allowed to play Sunday night.

'But I told him missing one game is better than possibly missing four to six weeks, if something was to happen,' Girardi said. 'So I feel real good about putting him out there on Tuesday, as of right now. As I said, there's no test scheduled. We're just trying to be smart about it.'

Even if Jeter feels great Tuesday -- or says he does -- the Yankees might be hesitant to start him against the Cubs. Quad injuries can be slow to heal and the forecast for Tuesday calls for an 80 percent chance of rain with 23-mph wind and thunder. If the game is played, the grass and infield could be treacherous, and Girardi will be careful.

'I think you have to be,'' he said. 'He's 39 years old. And I think you have to be smart about it and understand that there are times you're going to have to give him a day off. And I ran him out there seven days in a row and I don't know if that's something that I'll think about the next time . . . A lot depended on how he was doing, and he looked great, he was running fine and he was swinging the bat, so I left him in there.'

Rookie Dean Anna started at shortstop for the second straight game. Second baseman Brian Roberts also missed Sunday night's game with a back injury. There was no word on its severity.

Jeter, who did not speak with reporters before the game, batted .286 while playing in 10 of the Yankees' first 12 contests, including seven straight before Saturday. In 2013, he was limited to 17 games because of leg and ankle problems after suffering a broken ankle in the 2012 postseason. He announced before spring training that this will be his final season.

The Red Sox were without All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who was scratched from the original lineup. Pedroia returned to Boston to have his sore left wrist examined.

Pedroia was joined by closer Koji Uehara (shoulder stiffness), who also left for Boston Sunday night to undergo tests. Uehara missed the entire four-game series and could be headed for the disabled list.

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