• Ivan Nova threw a simulated game on the field at Fenway this afternoon and Joe Girardi dodged the question of whether he will replace Freddy Garcia in the Yankees rotation for this weekend's crucial series with the Tampa Bay Rays, which probably means that if Nova wakes up OK tomorrow, he's in and Freddy is out.

"We’ll see how he feels tomorrow," Girardi said. "I thought he looked good today. If he feels good tomorrow we’ll probably make a decision about what’s next for him."

Asked specifically if he was considering replacing Garcia, whose turn would come up on Saturday, with Nova, Girardi said, "We'll have to see what we're going to do about Saturday."

• Nick Swisher is in right field tonight, but he will see a lot of playing time at first base the rest of the way as long as Mark Teixeira remains sidelined with a calf strain. The way Girardi laid it out, Steve Pearce is likely to start most of the games at first base when a left-hander is going, as he is tonight against Jon Lester, and Swisher will play first against righties.

• Girardi made it official: David Phelps will start tomorrow night against RHP Aaron Cook in Game 2 of this three-game series, making it even more likely that it is Garcia who will be pulled from the rotation to clear a spot for Nova.