Three takeaways from the Yankees' series loss to the Rays

1. The Yankees can ill afford to lose Anthony Volpe for an extended period

Aaron Boone said on Sunday morning that Volpe, who injured his left shoulder during Saturday’s loss to the Rays, was “day-to-day” after X-rays and an MRI came back negative. So early indications are the Yankees won’t have to deal with the shortstop being out long-term, an overwhelming positive.

Because many fans, and some media, focus on Volpe’s inconsistency at the plate, lost at times is the fact that he has established himself as an elite defensive player. After winning a Gold Glove his rookie season, he has improved in the field each successive year. Ask pretty much any Yankees pitcher how much they value his work in the field, and you’ll get an idea of his importance and contributions when it comes to the all-important stat of run prevention.  

2. The Yankees actually need DJ LeMahieu

LeMahieu, who started the season on the injured list with a calf injury, is in his second week of rehab games — and suddenly he can’t get back fast enough. That’s because second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is out for at least the next four to six weeks with an oblique strain and the Yankees have no one on the roster, or in their system, who is a better option than LeMahieu to fill that position on a daily basis.

Pablo Reyes, who started Sunday, is no more than a role player. The same goes for other potential fill-ins such as Jorbit Vivas or Oswald Peraza, who started at short on Sunday. (Vivas did produce a two-out, two-run single in the eighth Sunday.)

LeMahieu is 36 and his best days clearly are behind him. But as a three-time Gold Glove winner at second base, he’s by far the best everyday option with Chisholm out, and it’s not close.

3. There’s not much help on the horizon for the rotation

Organizational pitching depth was a concern before spring training began, meaning it was a worry even before Gerrit Cole went down for the season and Luis Gil was lost for at least the first three months with a lat strain.

Carlos Carrasco, 38, a nonroster invitee to camp, would not be in the rotation if not for those injuries (and likely would be in another organization). Will Warren likely would have continued his development in the minors. Instead, both have spent the season in the rotation and, with little to turn to in the minors — Allan Winans probably would be next on the depth chart if there were another injury to the group — the Yankees’ best option at the moment is to simply hope things get better.

A short-term fix for the rotation could be Ryan Yarbrough, who threw well for four innings on Saturday when Clarke Schmidt was scratched. But that could end up being a distinction without a difference.

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.