Granderson could be back late next week

Curtis Granderson could join the Yankees as soon as next week if all goes well during his upcoming stint in the minors.

The team is optimistic that Granderson - who was placed on the 15-day disabled list after straining his groin while running the bases May 1 - will be ready to go soon. Said manager Joe Girardi: "He's doing great . . . Hopefully, we'll get him sometime at the end of next week - if everything goes right."

Girardi said the centerfielder will play the field and also DH for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the next few days as part of his rehab program. "He'll probably play five out of six days," Girardi said.

Though the injuries continue to mount, the Yankees' mind-set remains the same. "Just to try to continue to win series," Girardi said.

The Yankees won their first two games of a three-game series against Minnesota a week ago, then lost four of five entering this weekend's Subway Series.

But despite placing five players - Granderson, Chan Ho Park (hamstring), Nick Johnson (wrist), Alfredo Aceves (back) and Jorge Posada (foot) - on the disabled list, the Yankees refuse to make excuses.

"You can't think, 'What if this guy was here?' " Girardi said. "There are players here that have a chance to step up. We've given them the opportunity to do that and we need them to help us."

Extra bases

The call-up of Chad Moeller doesn't necessarily mean catcher Francisco Cervelli will get a rest. Girardi said he doesn't plan on sitting Cervelli right now but will watch him daily to see how he's doing physically . . . On a scale of one to 10, Aceves said the pain in his back was a "10" before he received an epidural shot and that now it's a two. The reliever threw 35 pitches on flat ground Friday and plans to play catch Saturday . . . During the Subway Series, the north and south sides of the Empire State Building will glow blue and white and the east and west sides will shine blue and orange. The series winner will have its colors displayed Monday.