NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira received a cortisone shot on Wednesday to calm the neck spasms that have been affecting his play this month, and though he could sit out a few more days, the Yankees say that they do not expect the first baseman to require a stint on the disabled list.
Teixeira was out of New York's lineup for its 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Wednesday, and manager Joe Girardi said that an MRI exam did not show results significantly different from the results of a similar test taken last season. Girardi said that Teixeira would be re-evaluated on Thursday.
"I feel OK about it," Girardi said. "There's a chance we won't have him for a few days here. We'll have to see. Obviously, I'll talk to the doctors more when we go in, but it's better than them saying there were big changes in the MRI. It's something I believe we can get through."
Of the possibility that Teixeira could land on the DL, Girardi said, "As of right now, it's not something that's in my mind."
It has been a miserable season thus far for Teixeira, who was arguably the Yankees' most valuable player last season before having his season cut short due to a small fracture in his right leg.
Teixeira is batting .195 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 42 games and has not homered since April 13; his 124 consecutive homerless at-bats represent the longest home run drought of his 14-year career.
Teixeira did not speak to reporters on Wednesday, but he has said that he believes the spasms date to the Yankees' series against the Orioles in Baltimore from May 3-5, when he made several dives on the infield dirt.
In the meantime, Girardi's options at first base aren't as limited as they may seem; he named four candidates on the big league roster whom he believes could play the position capably.
Dustin Ackley started on Wednesday, batting sixth and going 0-for-3, and Girardi said that in his mind, the next option is Austin Romine, who hit his first homer of the season on Wednesday. Brian McCann and utility infielder Ronald Torreyes are also choices, in Girardi's view, though the Yankees continue to say they are reluctant to play McCann at first base.

Should Teixeira go on the DL, the Yankees might consider summoning Nick Swisher or Chris Parmelee from their Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster, but the first cracks could go to Ackley. The Yankees think highly of the left-handed hitter's stroke, particularly at Yankee Stadium, and believe he just needs regular reps to hone his timing.
"I think right now it's just about getting at-bats and feeling comfortable, and we'll see what happens," Ackley said. "Hopefully, it's a quick recovery with whatever he's got going on with his neck. Hopefully, we get him back soon."