GIANCARLO STANTON

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will likely miss opening day because of a strained right calf, another significant injury for a team that was beset by health problems last season.

Manager Aaron Boone said Stanton was hurt near the end of defensive drills on Tuesday. An MRI found a Grade 1 strain.

“It will probably put us against it a little bit,” Boone said Wednesday. “I would say it’s time for him to get back, but then getting built up and stuff. We’ll see.”

The announcement came a day after New York said All-Star pitcher Luis Severino needed Tommy John surgery and would miss the entire season. Slugger Aaron Judge and lefty James Paxton already had been slowed this spring by injuries.

The Yankees put a major league-record 30 players on the injured list last year, with Stanton missing most of the season.

Asked if felt snake-bitten, Boone replied “No.”

The AL East champion Yankees open on March 26 at Baltimore.

Stanton played in just 18 games due a number of injuries last season, batting .288 with three homers in 59 at-bats. He hit 38 homers in his first year with the Yankees in 2018, one year after a going deep a career-high 59 times in 2017 with the Miami Marlins.

The outfielder/designated hitter signed a $325 million, 13-year contract after the 2014 season.

Elsewhere around spring training Wednesday:

CUBS 8, ROYALS (SS) 0

Kyle Hendricks allowed one hit over two scoreless innings in his spring debut for the Cubs and Alec Mills walked one in two more. Javier Baez hit his first home run of the spring and Jason Kipnis doubled.

Top pitching prospect Brady Singer started for the Royals allowed three hits and struck out two over two scoreless innings.

GIANTS 3, BREWERS 3

After five years pitching in Korea, Josh Lindblom got the start for the Brewers and struck out three over two innings, allowing a run on two hits. Josh Hader struck out the side in an inning of relief. Justin Smoak had two hits and Chad Spanberger doubled.

Brandon Crawford singled and homered and Evan Longoria doubled for the Giants. Jeff Samardzija worked a two-inning start, giving up a hit and a walk.