Gary can’t catch break

Struggling catcher to miss a month

The Yankees will be without Gary Sanchez for at least another month, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

The Yankees catcher was placed on the disabled list Tuesday after aggravating a groin strain in the Bombers’ 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday. In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday morning, Cashman confirmed the team doesn’t expect Sanchez to return until the end of August or early September.

Sanchez was previously shelved for a month with a groin strain but returned after the All-Star break at what the team believed to be full health.

In three games, he was just 2-for-14 and cost the Yankees during Monday’s loss, when he appeared to run at half speed, failing to beat the throw on a play that would have scored the tying run. After the game, Sanchez didn’t blame his lack of hustle on his injury, but an MRI the following day revealed that he had re-aggravated his groin.

Sanchez ranked second on the team last year in home runs, RBI and OPS, but he’s struggled when healthy this year. In 66 games, he’s hitting .188 with a .699 OPS. He’s also allowed 10 passed balls, tied for the most in the majors.

Even with Sanchez’s disappointing results this year, his loss for another month or more leaves a hole in the Yankees lineup with just over two months left in the season. After dropping two out of three against Tampa, the Yankees are 14-14 in their last 28 games, as the Bombers continue to trail the Red Sox in the AL East.

The Yankees will almost certainly reach the playoffs, but need to catch Boston to avoid a one-game wild-card playoff against Seattle or Oakland.

Cashman didn’t rule out the possibility of the Yankees shopping for another catcher on Wednesday, though backup Austin Romine has filled in admirably for Sanchez, batting .262 with a .789 OPS. The Yankees will turn to Kyle Higashioka to back up Romine just as they did during Sanchez’s first stint on the disabled list.