Eric Chavez was unavailable in Toronto due to sore back

TORONTO -- Eric Chavez didn't come through the Detroit series unscathed after all.

Joe Girardi had planned to rest Chavez against Toronto's three lefthanded starters after playing him four straight in Detroit, but he said he was unavailable even if he wanted to use him. "Chavy hasn't felt great after playing those four days in a row," Girardi said Sunday. "I don't think it will be an issue [Monday], but he hasn't felt great."

Girardi said the problem, which he stressed is minor, is a sore back. "But he's gotten better each day," he said.

Chavez, who talked his way into the lineup Wednesday when Girardi's inclination was to give him the day off, downplayed the issue. "Everything's fine," said Chavez, who went 9-for-16 with two homers and five RBIs against the Tigers. "I played four days in Detroit. Was supposed to have that third game off, but he pushed me there knowing he was going to keep me off the turf here. It worked out pretty good that way. I'll be fine [for today]."

Tough taskThe four-game series against the Rangers that starts Monday night at the Stadium matches the teams with the AL's best records.

"They're a very good club," Girardi said. "We're playing in really important games to try and get more distance in our division, and you're playing for home-field advantage."

Derek Jeter said it is "still too early" to be looking at the standings, but he acknowledged the series is important.

"I think they're all big now," he said. "We know how good Texas is. It's going to be a challenge for us."

Nod to Phelps

Girardi officially named rookie righthander David Phelps, 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts this season, as his starter Monday night against the Rangers.

"I'm looking forward to it a lot," said Phelps, whose most recent start was July 4 against the Rays (one runs, four hits in 41/3 innings). "Hopefully, I can go out there and learn from what I did last time. It's a huge series."

Phelps will be on a pitch count of 75 to 80.

Extra bases

Brian Cashman said Pedro Feliciano (rotator cuff) came through his first rehab assignment just fine and will pitch again early this week, likely Monday. "No setbacks whatsoever," he said of Feliciano, who pitched Friday with the GCL Yankees . . . The acquisition of Derek Lowe will become official Monday, and the 39-year-old righthander is slated to pitch out of the bullpen. He threw a 70-pitch bullpen session Saturday . . . Of the 17 runs in Sunday's game, 15 were driven in with two outs.