Lemahieu scratched from starting lineup
Team says infielder has a stomach virus
NEW YORK — DJ Lemahieu was scratched from the Yankees’ Tuesday night lineup less than an hour before first pitch with what the team said was a stomach virus. The infielder’s COVID rapid test upon his arrival at the ballpark was negative, the Yankees said.
Lemahieu may not be having the Mvp-like year he has had in his two previous seasons, but the versatile infielder is critical to the lineup that he leads off every night. Lemahieu is hitting .269/.348/.363
with seven home runs and 37 RBI.
It’s another huge blow to a team that has been dealt many blows this month. The Yankees are currently managing an outbreak of COVID19 cases with six players, including Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela, on the IL with the virus. It is their second outbreak of the season.
They are also without slugger Luke Voit, who is dealing with inflammation and a bruise in his surgically-repaired left knee.
Will Florial flourish?: Estevan Florial finally got his chance. The Yankees’ one-time top prospect was called up before Tuesday night’s game and was starting in center field for the first of two games against the Phillies at the Stadium.
“It’s always good to see Flo. He’s one of those guys that lights up the
room,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think we’ve all seen his talent and what he’s capable of. And, hopefully he can kind of take advantage of this opportunity and give us a little bit of a spark to and we certainly know what he’s capable of. And hopefully he can go out there and hold it down for us.”
With Trey Amburgey, who had been called up when Aaron Judge went on the COVID-19 injured list, on the IL with a strained hamstring, Florial got the call.
The 23-year old was showing left-handed power at Triple-a and has speed and the ability to play center field, but has only been given a few quick chances to see how he does at the big league level.
Loaisiga back: Jonathan Loaisiga, who had been on the COVID-19 IL since July 10, has returned to the team and was working on the field before the game Tuesday. The right-hander will not be activated until possibly this weekend in Boston.
“This is his first day back with us. So he’ll go through a flat ground long toss workout today. I think the plan is for him to throw a bullpen tomorrow. And then possibly do another bullpen or a live (batting practice) and hopefully be in play for us maybe at some point over the weekend,” Boone said.
Loaisiga was the first of the six Yankee players on the COVID-19 list. Boone said there is the potential for lefty Nestor Cortes to come back at some point during that four-game series in Fenway, but there is still no timeline for Judge, Gio Urshela, Kyle Higashioka and Wandy Peralta.
Injury updates: Darren O’day will have season-ending hamstring surgery on Wednesday, the 38-year old reliever is also contemplating his future after the rehab. He has a player option on his contract that he needs to exercise after the World Series.
Tom Locastro, who suffered a torn ACL making a catch at the wall Saturday night, will have surgery to repair it on Wednesday . ... Miguel Andujar, who has been on the IL since July 10 with a wrist-hand strain, took live BP for the first time on Tuesday . ... Luke Voit had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left knee Friday. The first baseman had a partly torn meniscus in that knee surgically repaired in March.