Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to Jason Giambi.

That was bench coach Rob Thomson’s rationale for removing Giambi from yesterday’s game, after Giambi mentioned he felt a twinge in his left groin muscle while rounding second base in the third inning.

Wilson Betemit pinch hit for Giambi in the fifth inning and remained in the game as the designated hitter. After the Yankees’ 6-3 loss to the Rays, Giambi indicated he had iced the groin muscle and will test it today during pregame drills.

“I’m going to be prepared to play first base and go from there,” Giambi said.

It’s more likely Giambi would be used as the DH if he’s healthy, even as Shelley Duncan, who played first base yesterday, begins his two-game suspension for sliding spikes high into Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura during spring training.

Betemit and Morgan Ensberg would be options to play first base if Giambi isn’t up to playing defense.

“We’ll see Jason in the morning, stretch him out, get him in the cage and see what he can do,” Thomson said. “We’ll evaluate that.”

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Joe Girardi told The Post his fever has dropped from 103 degrees to 101 and he expects a return to the dugout for today’s game against the Rays. For the second straight day Girardi watched the action on TV in his office, with Thomson calling the shots.

“It’s fun to be out there and doing it,” Thomson said. “But I’m looking forward to Joe getting back so we can get back to our regular jobs.”

Before the game Thomson said he didn’t receive any feedback on his managerial performance in the Yankees’ 13-4 loss to the Rays on Friday.

“Which, I guess is good,” Thomson said, referring to the Yanks’ lopsided defeat. “I guess if there was feedback, it would have been negative.”

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To make room for Andy Pettitte on the 25-man roster, the Yankees optioned reliever Jonathan Albaladejo to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The right-hander was among the team’s few bright spots in Friday’s loss to Tampa Bay, pitching 22/3 innings of scoreless relief. . . . Melky Cabrera‘s two-game suspension is finished for his role in the spring training altercation with the Rays, meaning he’ll likely return to center field for today’s game.