The first week of the season ended better than it began for the Yankees, though hopes of a sweep of the Royals disappeared with a furious eighth inning rally by Kansas City in its 6-4 win Sunday. Top two starters CC Sabathia and Chien-Ming Wang failed to record a strikeout in a combined eight innings as the Orioles won the first two games of the season, but Sabathia quieted concerns with 7 2/3 dominant scoreless innings against the Royals in his subsequent start. Nick Swisher didn't arrive with the fanfare of Sabathia or Mark Teixeira, but Swisher hit .438 (7-for-16) in starting the final four games of the week -- including the last two at first base in place of the injured Mark Teixeira (sore left wrist) -- as he helped the Yankees to a 3-1 record in that span.
PLAYER NEWS: --OF Xavier Nady left Tuesday's game in the seventh inning with pain in his surgically repaired right elbow. Nady, who had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in 2001, told reporters he was nervous and that he hoped it was scar tissue breaking off but added that it was very painful. Nady is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday.
--OF Johnny Damon missed the game with the flu and was replaced in left field by Nick Swisher, who batted cleanup. Damon told reporters he felt "very weak" but that he hoped to return to the lineup for the series finale Wednesday.
--RHP Brian Bruney continued his impressive start to the season by striking out the side in the ninth inning Monday on just 10 pitches. Bruney gave up two runs in one-third of an inning in the opener against the Orioles but has retired the last 12 batters he's faced over his last four appearances, including eight by strikeout.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Xavier Nady (sore right elbow) left the April 14 game. He was scheduled to have an MRI on April 15.
OF Johnny Damon (flu) sat out the April 14 game. He hopes to play April 15.
1B Mark Teixeira (left wrist tendinitis) sat out April 11-13, but he returned to action April 14.
DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery in September 2008) won't play in the field before June.
3B Alex Rodriguez (arthroscopic right hip surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He resumed baseball activities April 13 and could be back as soon as late April. He could have more extensive surgery during the offseason, although he is indicating that might not be necessary.
ROTATION:
LHP CC Sabathia
RHP Chien-Ming Wang
RHP A.J. Burnett
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Joba Chamberlain
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP Brian Bruney
LHP Damaso Marte
LHP Phil Coke
RHP Edwar Ramirez
RHP Jose Veras
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo
CATCHERS:
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
INFIELDERS:
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Robinson Cano
SS Derek Jeter
3B Cody Ransom
INF Ramiro Pena
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Johnny Damon
CF Brett Gardner
RF Xavier Nady
DH Hideki Matsui
OF/1B Nick Swisher
OF Melky Cabrera
