Javy set to face Mets Friday -- if he isn't needed in relief before then

Javier Vazquez said he is "tired" of answering the same questions about being skipped, but he'll really tire of those queries should he get into a game against the Red Sox or Rays as a reliever.

Joe Girardi said after yesterday's game that his intent is to start Vazquez Friday in the Subway Series opener at Citi Field. But getting through the first two series this week takes precedence.

The Yankees are expected to activate Chan Ho Park from the disabled list today, but with Sergio Mitre starting Sunday and throwing 79 pitches, and Alfredo Aceves on the DL, they're without a long man. "We might have to put Javy in the bullpen for a couple days," Girardi said.

Vazquez has made two previous relief appearances in the regular season - his last was July 18, 2006, as a member of the White Sox - and three overall. That third one, of course, was his dreadful outing against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS.

"You have to worry about Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before we can worry about Friday," Girardi said. "Yes, we want him to start on Friday is the bottom line, but sometimes you have unseen circumstances."

If Girardi has to go to Vazquez before Friday, he said Mitre likely will get Friday's start against the Mets.

Injury report

Nick Swisher (tightness in his left biceps) didn't start but was available to pinch hit righthanded. He was announced as a pinch hitter against lefthander Brian Duensing in the eighth, but when righthander Matt Guerrier replaced Duensing, Swisher gave way to Juan Miranda.

"We don't want to push this because we'd much rather take two, three days to let it heal and get better rather than snapping this thing and missing the whole rest of the season," Swisher said.

Curtis Granderson (groin) took batting practice for the first time since he went on the DL and also did some light fielding work with third-base coach Rob Thomson.

"Everything we're doing is good, but it's not necessarily in that [groin] area," Granderson said. "But the fact that it's still not bothering me is a very good thing."

Nick Johnson said he hasn't "done too much" since receiving a cortisone shot shortly after returning to New York from Boston May 9.

General manager Brian Cashman said over the weekend that it won't be known for a couple of weeks whether Johnson will need surgery. "If that's the case,'' Johnson said, "then just get back healthy and get back as soon as possible."

With Kimberley A. Martin