Ellsbury sits with fatigue; Friday return still possible

ANAHEIM -- Jacoby Ellsbury's rehab road has hit another speed bump, as the Yankees outfielder was left out of Tuesday's lineup for the Class A Tampa Yankees with what manager Joe Girardi called "general fatigue" in both legs.

Ellsbury has been on the disabled list since May 20 with a strained ligament in his right knee. He batted leadoff and served as the DH for Tampa on Monday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in St. Lucie's 2-0, 12-inning victory.

"I guess the running we've done the last couple of days has kind of worn him out," Girardi said. "And it's not only in the one leg, it's in both legs. So we'll give him a day off today and hopefully he's back in there tomorrow."

Girardi said that he did not believe the scratch was alarming, and it is still possible that Ellsbury could be reinstated to the Yankees' active roster on Friday for the opener of a weekend series against the Rays.

"That's my hope," Girardi said. "I've said all along though, we have to wait and see how he feels. What I hope for and sometimes what really happens are two different things. You've got to see how he's playing and how he's moving and how his body is responding."