Bombers bits

• Infielder Brendan Ryan, who has not played in a game since March 4 because of an oblique injury and then a cervical spine nerve injury, is getting closer to returning to action. He is scheduled to play in a Minor League game on Saturday in Tampa and could be ready to rejoin the Yankees sometime in May.

• Warren is being used as a one-inning reliever and has enjoyed success in that role. Girardi feels that Warren is "ready to make that step," adding that he is more comfortable using Warren on back-to-back days than he was in 2013.

• Girardi needs to keep an eye on shortstop Derek Jeter, who returned to the lineup on Wednesday and went 1-for-5 after resting a tight right quadriceps.

"I'm going to pay attention to it," Girardi said. "This is back-to-back days. I am going to pay attention to it, but I felt good about how he came through yesterday."

• On this date in 1951, Mickey Mantle made his Major League debut in a 5-0 win over the Red Sox. He was introduced by public address announcer Bob Sheppard, who was working his first game for the Yankees.