The Yankees’ shortstop is out with a strained rib cage.

TORONTO (AP) – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is expected to miss a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox this weekend because of a strained rib cage.

“I know we were hoping he’d be ready for the weekend, but this is certainly far more important than playing those three games,” manager Joe Torre said. “We have a lot more games after that.”

Jeter sustained a slight muscle strain in his left rib cage Sunday and hasn’t played since. He tested it out by jogging Thursday, but Torre didn’t have a report yet.

Jeter said earlier this week that the injury doesn’t seem as serious as similar ones in 1998 and 2000 that landed him on the disabled list.

He entered the day tied with Magglio Ordonez for the lead in the AL batting race with a .322 average.

“When we get him back we need to keep him,” Torre said.

Enrique Wilson has started in Jeter’s place.

Torre also said backup infielder Erick Almonte strained his right calf Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for a week.

Almonte’s injury means infielder Luis Sojo probably won’t be dropped from the roster if Jeter returns early next week. Sojo came out of retirement and was activated Monday.

Torre held a team meeting before Thursday’s game against Toronto and told his players not to get frustrated.

The Yankees entered the day three games ahead of Boston for first place in the AL East. They were 51/2 ahead after taking two of three from the Red Sox last weekend, then lost the first two of their three-game series against the Blue Jays.

“We want the feeling we had this past weekend,” Torre said. “I think they proved a lot of things to themselves this past weekend.”

Torre dropped struggling center fielder Bernie Williams to sixth in the order.

Williams, who entered Thursday’s game in a 7-for-48 slump, usually bats cleanup. Torre made Jorge Posada the fourth hitter.

“We just need to have more quality at-bats and right now Jorge is swinging the bat well,” Torre said.

“This really gets Bernie out of the spotlight a little bit.”