Luis Severino could be part of Yankees’ six-man rotation
Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Friday, May 13, 2016. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Luis Severino, who is recovering from a right triceps strain, is scheduled to pitch a rehab stint on Sunday with the Tampa Yankees. If all goes well, manager Joe Girardi said on Tuesday that Severino could be part of a six-man starting rotation when he returns.
Monday was the Yankees’ only day off in a stretch of 40 games in 41 days, and Tuesday night’s game against Toronto at Yankee Stadium was the beginning of 20 straight games. The workload could take a toll on a starting staff that finally has come around if Girardi doesn’t intervene.
“I think at some point, we’ll consider injecting a sixth man in there,” Girardi said. “I can’t tell you at what point. It depends on how hard your starters have worked, what they look like, how they feel. But at some point, we would do it.”
Catching some rest
The workload is tough on catchers, too, which is why Brian McCann got Tuesday night off in favor of backup catcher Austin Romine. Girardi said McCann was not suffering from an injury, saying, “I gave him a schedule for the whole week, and we talked about it. He’ll get one other day off this week, and he’s got the rest of [the games].”
Ford headlines Old-Timers’ Day
The Yankees announced the expected attendees for their 70th Old-Timers’ Day on June 12. They include Hall of Famers Whitey Ford, Rich (Goose) Gossage, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson and Joe Torre and current YES Network broadcasters David Cone, John Flaherty and Paul O’Neill. Reliever John Wetteland is among those making his Old-Timers’ debut. Apparently, it’s still too soon for Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera . . . The Yankees claimed RHP Layne Somsen off waivers from the Reds organization and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 10 appearances at Triple-A Louisville, the reliever compiled a 1.89 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 19 innings, 10 hits allowed and an opposing batting average of .154.
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
