Quad likely to land Capuano on DL to start season

TAMPA — Chris Capuano likely will start the season on the disabled list after suffering a strained right quadriceps during his start against the Red Sox on Wednesday.

“It’s going to be a while,” Joe Girardi said before the Yankees beat the Braves, 32, at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday night. “When I say a while, he’s not going to do anything at least for a couple of weeks. The problem is it’s so early in the process, you’re almost going to have to start over.”

When asked if the injury could cost the lefty a month, Girardi said, “I wouldthink so.”

That means the spring got that much more important for potential fillins Esmil Rogers, Adam Warren and Chase Whitley — and possibly others.

Capuano said he felt the injury just as he reached his leg out to touch first when he covered the bag just two batters into Wednesday’s game.

“It’s disappointing,” Capuano said. “It’s a setback. I know how to work through them.”

Capuano, signed to a $5 million deal to be the Yankees’ No. 5 starter, received a platelet rich plasma injection Thursday to speed the recovery.

“I have to stay away from baseball activity for a couple of weeks and then will need a couple of weeks to build back up,” Capuano said. “I would love to be ready for the start of the season.”

Didi Gregorius said he was fine after getting hit by a pitch in the right hamstring in the fifth inning. Girardi removed him from the game because the shortstop was only due to play another half inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury fouled a ball off his right shin later in the inning, but stayed in the game.

Alex Rodriguez went 0for2 with a walk and is scheduled to travel to Dunedin to play third base when the Yankees visit the Blue Jays in a split squad game on Saturday. He played four games in five days.

Chase Headley was able to return last season after being drilled in the chin by a fastball by Tampa Bay’s Jake McGee in September, and though the third baseman still can feel a slight bump where the ball struck his face, he said he’s otherwise not affected by the memory.

“It’s not really in the back of my mind,” said Headley,

who went 1for3.

Slade Heathcott hit his first homer of the season, as he tries to come back from multiple knee injuries, but he tried not to put too much significance on it.

“I can’t worry about that kind of stuff,” said Heathcott, 24, who was nontendered during the offseason and the resigned with the Yankees on a minor league contract. “At this point, I’m just concerned with staying healthy, and I feel like I’m the most healthy I’ve been in years.”

YANKEES NOTES