Joe Girardi said it was "not looking real favorable'' for Pedro Feliciano to avoid going on the disabled list before Thursday's opener. Feliciano, suffering from muscle soreness behind his left shoulder, played catch this morning and "it didnt go well. It's pretty hard to think that he would start with us.''

Feliciano could be put on the DL as early as tonight or tomorrow. In his place, Girardi said he was considering RHPs Luis Ayala and Mark Prior, and a new entrant, LHP Steve Garrison, who was scheduled to follow starter Buddy Carlyle today against the Twins. One candidate, Romulo Sanchez. was apparently removed from the list, and perhaps the roster. Sanchez had been on the travel roster for this trip, but was scratched at the last minute "for reasons I can't give you at this point,'' Girardi said, mysteriously. Can't wait to find out what that is.