TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees plan to have Derek Jeter start the regular season as the leadoff hitter.

New York manager Joe Girardi says Wednesday as of right now, the lineup for Monday's season opener at Baltimore will have Jeter hitting first and Johnny Damon second.

Girardi flip-flopped Damon, the former No. 1 hitter, and Jeter for the first time on March 26. The manager had liked what he saw earlier in spring training when Damon batted second so catcher Jorge Posada, coming back from right shoulder surgery, could hit first and get extra at-bats.

Jeter is a career .315 hitter batting first. The last time Damon hit second with more than 50 at-bats came in 2002.