Taillon out with ankle tear
Britton has Tommy John surgery
NEW YORK — Yankees starter Jameson Taillon was added to the 10-day injured list Thursday with a partial tear of a tendon in his right ankle, and manager Aaron Boone also said reliever Zack Britton has had season-ending Tommy John surgery.
The reeling Yankees are feeling more optimistic about ace Gerrit Cole, who left a start Tuesday with left hamstring tightness. Cole played catch Thursday and plans to throw a bullpen Friday or Saturday with an eye toward a return to game action Monday or Tuesday.
The Yankees have lost five straight and nine of 11 since winning 13 in a row. A 6-3 defeat to Toronto on Wednesday dropped them a half-game behind Boston for the first American League wildcard berth.
Boone said Taillon felt discomfort in his right ankle toward the end of a start Monday, when he allowed three runs in seven innings in an 8-0 loss to the Blue Jays. He had a PRP injection this week and was in a walking boot Wednesday
and Thursday, Boone said. Taillon is hoping to be out of the boot Friday, and there’s a chance he will only miss one start.
There isn’t concern that Taillon would worsen the injury by pushing it, Boone said.
“It sounds worse than it is, but his body is going to tell us what he’s able to handle,” Boone said.
Taillon is 8-6 with a 4.41 ERA over 27 starts in his first season with the Yankees. Prior to this year, he hadn’t pitched since May 1, 2019, while recovering from Tommy John surgery when he was with Pittsburgh.
Britton was operated on by Dr. Neal Elattrache in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He had the UCL in his left elbow reconstructed and also had a bone chip removed.
Boone was uncertain about a timetable for Britton’s return, although the typical Tommy John surgery recovery is 12 to 18 months.
Britton, 33, was 0-1 with a 5.89 ERA in 22 games this season and last pitched Aug. 19. New York has already picked up the $14 million option of his contract for 2022. He can become a free agent after that.
Right-hander Michael King is expected to be activated Friday. He went on the IL after injuring his right middle finger weight lifting in July. He stretched out to three innings in his final rehab start with Triple-a Scranton/ Wilkes-barre.
Righty Sal Romano was added to the 28-man roster from Triple A, and outfielder Jonathan Davis was designated for assignment.
Boone said he does not have a starter scheduled for Sunday night’s finale against the Mets at Citi Field.
“Luis Gil was here yesterday, so he’ll take another turn,” Boone said Thursday. “Obviously, Nestor [Cortes went] tonight, [Jordan Montgomery] on Friday and Corey Kluber on Saturday, and then we’ll see where we’re at for Sunday.”
Deivi Garcia was in the Bronx on Thursday as part of the taxi squad. While Boone said he didn’t plan on activating Garcia to be a starter, he admitted that with the way things have been going “anything is possible.” Clarke Schmidt is also in consideration for a call-up as a starter or reliever, Boone said.