Derek Jeter will miss at least three games and possibly more with a strained left quadriceps, but the New York Yankees are not planning to put their eight-time All-Star shortstop on the DL.

"He probably won't be available this series," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday before the New York played the Kansas City Royals. "We'll shoot for the Red Sox series. We'll see where he's at after a couple of days and try to make an evaluation then."

Jeter said he hurt the muscle running before Monday's game against Tampa Bay and that the pain was "not that bad at all."

"I haven't tried to do anything yet. I've got to go in the trainers room and see what they tell me," he said.

Wilson Betemit replaced Jeter in the lineup and was hitting eighth.

New York did get back first baseman Jason Giambi after a two-day absence. He had been out with a sore left groin.

Girardi said he did not know whether cold weather had contributed to the problems.

"They had no issues in spring training when it was warm. They were both running great," Girardi said. "The conditions are the same for everybody. You're never sure why something happens. But they happen, and you have to deal with it."

Girardi said he had not discussed the possibility of moving Alex Rodriguez, an All-Star shortstop who switched to third when he was traded to the Yankees in 2004.

"We're just thinking he's been our third baseman the last few years. He's comfortable playing third," Girardi said. "I don't see it being a problem with him not feeling comfortable playing short. But that's why we have Wilson. If someone goes down in the middle of the infield for a couple of days, that's why we have him."

Jeter attempted to play on Monday but left after two innings. Girardi said an MRI exam did not indicate serious damage.

"It didn't really reveal like a tear or anything. You could see there was a little something there. It doesn't change our time frame. We're not going to entertain any warm weather for the next six days, and that's a little bit of a concern."

After the series in Kansas City, New York heads to Boston for its first series this year against the World Series champion Red Sox. Jeter's absence left the Yankees short-handed as they begin a stretch where they play 18 of 20 games away from home.

"It's part of the game. There's times you're going to be short-handed," Girardi said. "You've got to do the best you can. You get a guy who's maybe nicked up for three or four days and you don't necessarily want to DL him because then you lose him for 15."