New York Yankees v Arizona Diamondbacks

New York Yankees delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 16, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall | Getty Images)

NEW YORK -- The Yankees will call up from Triple-A rookie right-hander Chad Green on Sunday to start in San Diego against the Padres in place of lefty CC Sabathia, manager Joe Girardi said Thursday, in order to keep Sabathia from having to hit and run the bases since San Diego plays in a National League park.

"If you remember that's how [Sabathia] got hurt in Milwaukee," Girardi said.

In May 2014, Sabathia pitched--and hit--in Milwaukee, an NL park, and it was his last outing of the year, having to undergo knee surgery the following month. With Sabathia nursing a bum ankle these days, they don't want to take any more chances. Sabathia will start Monday in Chicago instead.

Girardi said the hardest part was having to break the news to the lefty--Sabathia loves to hit, after all, and Sunday would have been one of the few chances he had all season. Sabathia has 25 hits, three for home runs, in 114 career at-bats.

"I was a little concerned about that but I think he understood and he remembers and understands why we're doing it," Girardi said.

This changing of the schedule also will give Sabathia an extra days' rest between starts, as well as everyone else. Namely, ace Masahiro Tanaka, whose ERA is nearly 5.28 when pitching on four days' rest and 1.24 on five or more.

Green Day

Green, 25, has been spectacular at Triple-A lately, posting a 1.77 ERA in 44.2 innings. He made a spot start for the big league team six weeks ago in Arizona when he pitched four innings and allowed four earned against the Diamondbacks.

"His secondary stuff has continued to improve and that's important when you get to this level because you have to be able to throw those--your breaking ball and change up behind in the count to get back in the count," Girardi said Thursday. "You can't just rely on one pitch. But it has improved and I'm curious to see on Sunday."

This could be an audition of sorts for Green. Fellow right-hander Ivan Nova (5-5, 5.32) has struggled of late and it's possible Green, if he's sharp, could slide into the rotation and the team would flip Nova back to the bullpen's longman.

Ryan Hatch may be reached at rhatch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanhatch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.