ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Kevin Youkilis will not return to the Yankees lineup Tuesday night.

The third baseman left Saturday’s game in Toronto with lower back tightness and was scratched from Monday’s lineup card not long before the game against the Rays.

“It might be a couple of more days,’’ manager Joe Girardi said on Monday. “He felt good and went through BP and it tightened up on him. We thought it was best he didn’t play.’’

Jayson Nix will start in his place at third base and will bat ninth. Nix is batting .194 with one home run and four RBI’s this season.

1. Brett Gardner – LF

2. Eduardo Nunez – SS

3. Robinson Cano – 2B

4. Vernon Wells – RF

5. Ben Francisco – DH

6. Lyle Overbay – 1B

7. Chris Stewart – C

8. Ichiro Suzuki – RF

9. Laynce Nix – 3B

Phil Hughes – SP