1 August 2023
The Yankees’ rotation faced its latest injury challenge Monday, when Domingo Germán was scratched from his scheduled start against the Rays after experiencing right armpit discomfort a day earlier.
Jhony Brito was called up to start in place of Germán, with reliever Ron Marinaccio sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the roster.
Germán didn’t experience discomfort during his previous outing — when he surrendered six runs in a loss to the Mets last Tuesday — or in his subsequent bullpen session, manager Aaron Boone said Monday. The right-hander wasn’t able to play catch Sunday due to the issue, however.
The 30-year-old Germán was scheduled to see team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad before Monday’s game to “rule anything out,” Boone said. The Yankees don’t expect Germán to go to the injured list.
“He felt better by the end of [Sunday],” Boone said. “He feels good today, but we just didn’t feel like we could risk sending him out there, and then if we have to pull the plug in the first inning or something, it would put us in a tough situation.”
The Yankees needed 4.2 innings out of their bullpen during Sunday night’s loss to Baltimore after starter Luis Severino failed to get through four innings.
Germán, who pitched the 24th perfect game in MLB history last month, has a 4.77 ERA this season and a 5.64 mark in July. He could return to the rotation within the “next several days” if everything checks out, Boone said.
Brito entered Monday’s game 4-4 with a 4.70 ERA in 12 outings with the Yankees this season.
“He’s been throwing pretty well this month [at Triple-A],” Boone said. “He’s done a good job with us. I feel like he’s had really competitive outings each time he’s pitched with us.”
Marinaccio threw 2.2 scoreless innings Sunday after struggling throughout July. He had surrendered eight runs over his previous seven appearances and has a 7.36 ERA this month.
Boone said Marinaccio’s demotion was the result of the Yankees needing to make a move for Brito, but said pitching at Triple-A will give the reliever an opportunity to work on his aggressiveness in the strike zone and staying on top of the running game.
“Hopefully this is something that can serve him well, too,” Boone said. “Get some quality work in, get back here and really help us.”
Marinaccio recently told the Daily News he was “searching for consistent mechanics,” an issue that may have contributed to a drop in his velocity.
“We’re trying to create as much force as we can driving down the mound,” Marinaccio said. “I feel like I’m getting stuck over the rubber at times and I don’t have much power at the end of my throw. And that probably speaks to velocity ticking down at times. It’s been up and down for me. I feel like I’ve been getting close at times. Then I’ve had outings where I haven’t felt great, too.”
The Yankees rotation is currently without Nestor Cortes, who is rehabbing from a left rotator cuff strain, and has also endured prolonged injury absences by Severino and Carlos Rodón. Frankie Montas, who underwent shoulder surgery in February, hasn’t pitched this season.
JUDGE COULD PLAY ENTIRE RAYS SERIES
The Yankees continue to exercise caution with Aaron Judge, who returned to the Yankees lineup last Friday after a big toe injury cost him nearly two months.
Judge was back in the lineup as the designated hitter Monday after a scheduled day off Sunday. Boone hopes Judge can play all three games of the Rays series but will take things “day by day” with the slugger.
“We’re going nowhere if we run Aaron Judge into the ground when he hasn’t had a rehab game,” Boone said. “One of the thoughts behind not having him do a rehab assignment is we can do that and get the benefits of having him in the lineup for a couple days like we were able to in Baltimore.”
Judge walked three times during his return Friday, then went 3-for-5 with a home run in Saturday’s win against the Orioles.
RAYS RETOOL
An AL East division rival got stronger Monday, with the Rays trading for red-hot Guardians pitcher Aaron Civale on Monday.
The 28-year-old Civale, who is 5-2 with a 2.34 ERA this season, didn’t allow more than two runs in any of his six starts in July. He helps bolster a Rays rotation that lost Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs for the year.
Tampa Bay traded Triple-A first baseman Kyle Manzardo, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as the No. 37 prospect in baseball.
The Rays, who are second in the AL East and hold the top AL Wild Card spot, entered Monday 7.5 games ahead of the Yankees.
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