Yankees' Aceves might be going on DL

DETROIT - A day after saying his stiff lower back felt "much better," Alfredo Aceves appears headed to the disabled list.

The righthanded reliever made his statement Monday but that was before throwing in the bullpen later that day.

When he did, he felt pain and speculated Tuesdaythat he might have a bulging disc, similar to what caused Tiger Woods to withdraw from last weekend's Players Championship.

"Everything felt good but when I do this," Aceves said, mimicking his follow-through. "That's when I feel it. You don't want to pitch like that."

Aceves, who battled back issues last year and this spring when he missed several days, left Saturday's game at Boston while covering first. He said he would return to New York Wednesdayand see the doctor Thursday.

"Now I'm going to take my time," Aceves said. "Times before with my back, I've tried to pitch to help my team and maybe rushed a little bit. I don't want to rush myself or my back."

Park's road back

With Aceves going down, Chan Ho Park's recovery becomes that much more important. The righty, on the DL since April 16 with a right hamstring strain, will make a rehab appearance Wednesdayand again Friday.

"If everything goes OK," Joe Girardi said. "We'll see him probably fairly shortly after that."

Where's Mo?

Mariano Rivera has not appeared in a game since April 30, though that's not a worry for Girardi. "It's not like he's trying to get his changeup going or his curveball going," Girardi said. "It's one guy whose been doing it for a long time who really understands his body and his mechanics. It's probably less important for him than most pitchers in baseball."