Judge homers in his return to Yanks’ lineup.
Out 5 days with stiff neck, he homers against Paxton
Right fielder Aaron Judge homered off James Paxton when the slugger returned to the New York Yankees’ intrasquad lineup on Wednesday after missing five days due to a stiff neck.
Judge homered to center on the second pitch from Paxton, who was pitching his first intrasquad game following back surgery on Feb. 5. Giancarlo Stanton also homered against Paxton in the first inning.
New ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start the July 23 opener at Washington, and manager Aaron Boone said Paxton will start the second game at the Nationals on July 25.
Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled for a bullpen session Thursday, his first action since he was struck on the head by a liner off the bat of Stanton on July 4.
“Every step of the way, as we’ve ramped up his workload he’s responded well,” Boone said. “We’d hope that he’d be able to see live hitters before opening day. Obviously, you’d want to get a couple bullpens in and then face live hitters.”
Boone wouldn’t commit to a starter for the third game, on July 26 against the Nats.
New York remains unsure whether closer Aroldis Chapman and second baseman DJ Lemaheiu will be available for the opening.
Both have been absent from training following positive tests for COVID-19.
“First things first, is getting them negative and back,” Boone said. “And when that happens, we’ll kind of make an evaluation of where we think they are and what’s the best course moving forward. But I haven’t let myself look at a day like, oh, we need them in by here.” Red sox: Placed left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez, Josh Taylor, and Darwinzon Hernandez on the injured list while they recover from COVID-19. Rodriguez won 19 games last year and had been the team’s likely opening day starter. Although all three pitchers would be eligible to be activated as soon as they have cleared the protocol, they have not been able to participate in team workouts and would need time to prepare for the season. A player must test negative twice at least 24 hours apart and show no symptoms of the disease. Without Rodriguez at least for the first time through the rotation, Nathan Eovaldi is expected to start against the Baltimore Orioles in the July 24 opener.
Astros: Manager Dusty Baker doesn’t expect reliever Joe Smith to play for the team this season. Smith has not reported to camp because of what general manager James Click called concerns for the safety of his family. Smith was placed on the restricted list Tuesday night, but he has not said publicly if he is opting out of the season, which starts for the Astros on July 24. Players have the option of not playing this season amid the coronavirus pandemic, but will only receive their salary and service time if they are labeled high-risk. Smith’s mother, Lee Smith, has Huntington’s disease, which causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Cubs: An MRI of first baseman Anthony Rizzo showed rib-head inflammation on his left side that is causing back spasms — a condition he has dealt with before in his career.
Rangers: Willie Calhoun is expected to miss the start of the season because of a hip strain, a setback for the left fielder who was ready to play after recovering from a broken jaw suffered in a spring training game more than four months ago.
Back after coronavirus: Twins first baseman Miguel Sano was cleared to join the team after testing positive for the virus upon his arrival in Minnesota. Royals catcher Salvador Perez is back after his own positive test. Same for outfielder Anthony Santander in Baltimore and slugger Derek Dietrich in Cincinnati.