Freddy Garcia is not with the team, having gone on bereavement leave after the death of his grandfather in Venezuela. He is expected to be gone several days. In his absence, the Yankees have promoted RHP Ryota Igarashi from AAA Scranton, where he was 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three appearances, but get this -- 11 Ks in 5IP.

Mark Teixeira visited an ENT today -- that's an ear-nose-throat specialist -- to find out the cause of his persistent cough and was told he has residual nerve damage to one of his vocal cords from the bronchial illness he has been battling all season. The damage was discovered after the doctor sent a camera down his throat to take some gruesome photos. Now with a combination of medication and one vocal restriction -- "Only talking to the media after wins'' -- Teixeira hopes to kick the cough once and for all.

David Robertson threw 25 pitches off the mound at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. Afterward, Joe Girardi said he "did OK,'' but he said it with a certain lack of conviction. Girardi said it was as-yet-undetermined whether Robertson, on the DL since May 14 with a left oblique strain, would throw another mound session or throw batting practice before being sent on a rehab assigment. "I’m sure all the powers that be will make that decision pretty quick,'' said Girardi.

Joba Chamberlain will throw a bullpen tomorrow, which came as news to his manager, since Joba announced it via his Twitter feed. "I don't tweet,'' Girardi said. "Maybe he'll tweet (tomorrow) how he did.''

David Aardsma tweeted: "for 3 days straight. Looks like I'll be throwing my batting practice bullpen in the cage'' #ifimlucky. Whatever that means.

David Price is 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 15 career starts against the Yankees, the most memorable of which was last July 9, when Derek Jeter went 5-for-5 against him, including a home run for his 3,000th career hit. On May 10th, Price was outpitched by CC Sabathia in a 5-3 loss, allowing 11 hits and five runs in 7 innings, including home runs to Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano.

CC Sabathia is 10-7 with a 3.11 ERA vs. Tampa Bay, and 7-2 with a 2.40 against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately for Tampa, the one Ray who does damage to CC, Evan Longoria (.394, 5 HRs in 33 ABs), is on the DL with a torn hamstring.