Yankees Pre-Game Notes: 3/25

Joe Girardi met with the media before their spring training game on Tuesday to address a couple of topics.

• Michael Pineda has won the 5th spot in the Yankees rotation. He will join Sabathia, Kuroda, Tanaka, and Nova in the rotation. Pineda is aligned to make his first home start against the Red Sox on April 10th. Girardi said that he was impressed with Pineda since his first bullpen session of the spring. 
• David Phelps and Adam Warren are pretty much "locks" in the Yankee bullpen, while Vidal Nuno's spot is still to be determined. 
• Jacoby Ellsbury will play in his second minor league game tomorrow as he works his way back from a tight calf. 
• Girardi stated that he would be surprised if Brendan Ryan was on the 25-man roster to begin the season. Ryan has been out for nearly a month with an oblique/lower back injury. The Yankees hope to get him back around mid-April. 

The Yankees are schedule to take on the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in Tampa.