Ellsbury Unlikely To Play Vs. Sox Tuesday

Mar 13, 2014; Clearwater, FL, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) runs off the field after the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Yankees 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

After sitting out Sunday’s spring training game due to tightness in his right calf, and although he claims to be alright, Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced Monday it is unlikely center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury will get a chance to play in Tuesday’s game, the first one against his former team, the Boston Red Sox.

“My guess is no, but we will see,” Girardi said. Ellsbury said he started feeling tightness in his right calf Saturday. Ellsbury has said it’s no big deal, and that if this were the regular season, he’d be playing. But with a well-documented history of injuries, the Yankees aren’t taking any chances with their $153 million man. Ellsbury will get another shot at facing his former team later this week. The Yankees travel to Fort Myers, Fla., to face the Red Sox on Thursday night, but there is no guarantee of Ellsbury playing in that contest either.