least three games because of a strained muscle

NEW YORK -- Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will be sidelined for at least three games because of a strained muscle in his back, the latest injury to slow the teams leading run producer. Teixeira has been hampered by a left lower lat injury that was causing spasms in his back for about a month. The pain escalated during New Yorks weekend sweep of the Cincinnati Reds immediately following the All-Star break. "Throwing, hitting -- anything with any type of rotation, its been pretty painful," Teixeira said Monday before the Yankees played the Texas Rangers. "The spasms, unfortunately, have gone from my neck to my lower back, up and down the whole time. We just kind of put the fires out, and finally when the pain ratcheted up, it was one spot." An MRI administered Sunday showed a mild strain of the muscle. Teixeira was set to have a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection Monday night and will most likely sit out the entire four-game series against Texas. The Yankees will reevaluate Teixeira in a few days but manager Joe Girardi didnt think the injury would send Teixeira to the disabled list. "I think if we were concerned, really concerned, wed put him on the DL right away," Girardi said. After missing all but 15 games last season because of a wrist injury that needed surgery, Teixeira was looking forward to playing a full season. Its hardly gone as planned for the 34-year-old switch-hitter. He already has missed 21 games this year because of hamstring, back, knee and wrist problems. But he still leads the Yankees with 17 homers and 48 RBIs in 76 games. He is hitless in his last 13 at-bats. "I thought the year off last year would kind of give me a fountain of youth and its just made me rusty," Teixeira said. "Thats the way it feels. Its been something. Every game, its something. Im still happy with the way Ive played when Im healthy." Mike Piazza Jersey . In a matter of days, he went from unwanted to wanted, from fired to hired, from discarded by the Philadelphia Eagles with reputation tarnished to rock star treatment and a new fat contract from the Washington Redskins. Nolan Ryan Mets Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. http://www.metssale.com/mets-lenny-dykstra-jersey/ . -- Fantasy football owners and Denver Broncos fans can rest easy: Peyton Manning is back. Travis dArnaud Jersey . -- The Washington Redskins coaching staff distanced itself from other coaches Thursday by siding with ownership -- and not the players -- in the NFLs labour dispute. Michael Conforto Jersey . "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on.Sam Reinhart scored twice while Anthony Duclair and Curtis Lazar also found the net to lead Canada to a 4-1 victory over Finland at the World Junior Championship. Fucale made 27 saves to earn his second victory of the tournament. Max Domi had two assists and Duclair also picked up a helper for a twwo point night.dddddddddddd Canada will face USA in their final game of the round robin with the winner taking first place in Group A. Artturi Lehkonen scored for Finland in the second period, snapping a Canadian shutout streak by both Fucale and Eric Comrie that lasted 158:26. ' ' '