Chamberlain and Mitre have side muscle injuries

[March 15, 2011]  TAMPA, Fla. (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. The right-hander is competing with Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and Bartolo Colon for two open rotation spots behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.

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.

Chamberlain is part of what appears to be a strong bullpen that includes closer Mariano Rivera and eighth-inning setup man Rafael Soriano.

[Associated Press]

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