STARLIN HEADIN’ TO DL
SEATTLE — Did the Yankees bring Starlin Castro back too soon? Castro is headed back on the disabled list, having reinjured his right hamstring on Wednesday in Minnesota. Joe Girardi said the 27-yearold All-Star will begin his DL stint on Sunday.
It appeared as though Castro was running gingerly when he returned from his previous DL stint and struck a double on July 15 in Boston. Castro missed 13 games from June 27 to July 14.
“He was doing that really to protect himself knowing that I’m going to protect myself and if I don’t have to run hard, there’s no reason to run hard,” Girardi said. “I thought we gave him substantial time. I think it might be in a little different spot. He did it Wednesday in Minnesota when he hit a slow roller (on an infield single to third in the fourth inning), and here we are again.” Castro underwent an MRI on Saturday. “It’s kind of a little bit frustrating because we didn’t see the doctor yet,” Castro said. “We just saw the blood in the MRI, and I just prepared my mind to play today.”
Asked if he felt like he came back too soon, Castro responded: “I don’t think so.”
Tyler Wade has been summoned from Triple-A Scranton and will platoon at second base with utility man Ronald Torreyes. Torreyes got the start on Saturday.
Girardi said Castro iced his injury after Wednesday’s game, which is normal. On Thursday, he said he was a little tight but tried to play through it, and then Friday a bruise showed up. “That’s when we knew we had an issue,” Girardi said. “It’s frustrating,” the manager added. “He’s frustrated. We’re going to try to get him going as quick as we can.”
Girardi said Castro tried to argue that he could keep playing but the Yankees don’t want to risk him suffering a tear. Castro has five hits in his last 22 at-bats following the AllStar break. He’s struck the ball pretty well over that span.
FOR STARTERS
After Girardi had said there was a “possibility” that 25-year-old rookie lefty Caleb Smith would eventually start, the Yankees announced he’ll be starting Sunday’s game. Luis Cessa, who was holding Michael Pineda’s spot but was 0-3 with a 4.61 ERA overall, was originally scheduled to go on Sunday.
Smith had been serving as the team’s long man out of the bullpen. Girardi said neither Chad Green nor Adam Warren was stretched out enough to serve in that role. Green and Warren have both been terrific in middle relief.