BALTIMORE -- Brett Gardner likely won't start again until Friday in Tampa because of his sore right wrist.
"My hope that we would get him back on Friday," Girardi said.
Gardner was hit on the wrist in the first inning of Monday's game. He was lifted in the seventh inning with the bases loaded for Stephen Drew -- and it worked out.
Girardi thought Gardner might be able to pinch-run and possibly play defense on Tuesday.
"I don't think he'll be able to hit, but we'll see," Girardi said.
A-Rod resting: Alex Rodriguez is not in the lineup for the first time all season.
"He's played every game and has started every game," Girardi said. "He played defense [Monday night] so I thought it would be best to give him tonight off."
Rodriguez will likely DH on Wednesday and, with Thursday an off day, should be good to go in Tampa, as well. A-Rod is hitting .250 with one homer and six RBIs. He has struck out 11 times in 24 at-bats.
Who's your closer, Joe: So far, every time they have pitched Dellin Betances has come into games before Andrew Miller. Betances has no saves, while Miller has two. So who is your closer, Joe?
"We haven't made a decision one way or another," Girardi said. "I said I'd wait to see how it played out and then we would re-evaluate."
Though Betances has been charged with no runs this season, he has looked a bit shaky. Girardi said Betances just has a "little mechanical thing." He didn't elaborate, but the big man has had some trouble with his release point.
Game-planning: Girardi said the Yankees used to game-plan to run on ex-Red Sox Jon Lester, who is reluctant to throw to first.
"We definitely talked about it," Girardi said.
The problem, according to Girardi, was actually getting the right runner on first.
"We didn't necessarily have a lot of success getting a lot of people on," Girardi said. "There are some guys with speed, but not all of them."