Baseball

The Yankees had the option of skipping Nuno with the off day, but they decided to give CC Sabathia an extra day of rest. "It's just the way we did it because we're in another long stretch here," manager Joe Girardi said. "After this day off, it's 17 days in a row, so that's how we decided to do it."

It's the first time he's done so since landing on the DL, as he had been limited to hitting off a tee and taking soft-toss. When Nunez will be ready to return to game action isn't known, but it shouldn't be too far off.

It was reported previously that Youkilis played in an extended spring game Tuesday, but that was actually also a simulated game. It's not clear when he'll be ready to play in a real game, but he's not far off. "I can't tell you," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I think you have to give him a few days in a row before you evaluate to make sure that his back is healed and it doesn't come back. The last two days have been pretty good, so he's getting closer."

It will be the first time he's thrown since landing on the DL last week with a strained trapezius muscle. "Then we'll do some long toss, a bullpen and hopefully work it up to a simulated game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Pettitte is expected back on June 1, the first day he's eligible, or shortly after that.

Nova's triceps doesn't appear to be an issue anymore, but the Yankees don't seem eager to add him to the roster. The righty has already appeared in multiple extended spring games and, according to manager Joe Girardi, "felt good" during a bullpen session Wednesday. "We'll make sure he feels OK and we'll go from there," Girardi said. With Andy Pettitte (trapezius muscle) likely to return soon, Nova might wind up being optioned to Triple-A or being used as a long man.

He's just getting the day off. Curtis Granderson will make the start in center field while Ichiro Suzuki plays right and Vernon Wells starts in left.

Nuno was sent down on Tuesday, but he's eligible to return now that Andy Pettitte (trapezius) has been placed on the disabled list. The 25-year-old southpaw has a 5/3 K/BB ratio over eight shutout frames with the Yankees this season and figures to get a start or two while Pettitte is sidelined. However, he shouldn't be a consideration outside of AL-only formats.