Boston ? Roger Clemens was scratched from Monday’s start against the Chicago White Sox because of a fatigued right groin.

Clemens first experienced the pain during his last minor league outing, for Triple-A Scranton on Monday. Rather than risk additional injury, he decided to be cautious, the Yankees confirmed during Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

“Well, we’re going to need a starter for Monday,” manager Joe Torre said. “We didn’t know until today that he wasn’t going to make the start.”

It is not clear when Clemens will pitch, but he will miss the four-game series at Chicago. Kei Igawa is likely to start against the White Sox on Monday.

“He’s definitely a possibility,” Torre said during the television broadcast of Saturday’s 11-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. “He may be not quite where we want him to be yet, but in search of a starter as opposed to bringing somebody back on short rest is probably the way we’d like to go.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke to Clemens, who threw off a mound on Saturday.

“He called it a fatigued groin, not a strained groin,” Cashman said. “I think he’s optimistic it’s a short issue…. I don’t think this is that big of a deal.”

The 44-year-old, seven-time Cy Young winner came out of retirement to take a prorated share of a $28 million salary to help New York overcome a double-digit deficit in the AL East.