Surgery is likely for Kahnle; Tanaka takes ball for Bombers
Reliever Tommy Kahnle is “probably headed' for Tommy John surgery, after an MRI revealed damage to his right ulnar collateral ligament, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday night.
“It's just one of those where your heart goes out to Tommy right now,” Boone said, “knowing that it's a significant injury that's got to get taken care of now.”
Kahnle has been an important part of the Yankees bullpen. His last appearance, he pitched his way out of a jam after a Gleyber Torres' error, to give the Yankees a win Sunday over the Nationals. When Boone didn't use him Thursday night in a tight game against the Orioles, it became apparent there was an issue.
TAKANA STARTS TONIGHT
Masahiro Tanaka will be wearing protection when he makes his first start of the 2020 season. After taking a Giancarlo Stanton line-drive comebacker to the top, rightside of his head on the very day of official summer workouts at Yankee Stadium, Tanaka will start Saturday against the Red Sox with a carbon-filter kevlar panel in his hat.
“It was actually a trainer that recommended me to, if I wanted to try this on,” Tanaka said through interpreter Shigo Horie. ” And I was on board with that so I did try it on and it actually turned out that it didn't bother me at all. I just kind of forget that it's even in there. So, that's when I thought that this may work. Also it gives me a peace of mind, obviously, it actually
will protect me in a sense too.”
Tanaka realizes how lucky he was. Stanton's ball had an exit velocity of 112 miles an hour and hit Tanaka just above his temple. He dropped to the ground holding his head but never lost consciousness. He was diagnosed with a “mild concussion” but said he never felt the symptoms of a concussion after leaving the hospital that same night.
He had a slight thought about the accident before he got back up on the mound to face hitters for the first time last week. As he was ramping up at the alternate training site in Scranton, Tanaka said he forgot about the incident.
“Actually you just reminded me of that,” Tanaka said with a laugh. “When I went on the mound in Scranton the other day, I didn't think of it at all! So that said I think I should be fine.”
The Yankees could use a good start from Tanaka Saturday
to settle a shaky rotation. Aside from Gerrit Cole, the Yankees starters have struggled to start the season. James Paxton and J.A. Happ were not sharp in their first starts and the Yankees used Jonathan Loaisiga as an opener on Sunday.
CHAPMAN CLEARED
Closer Aroldis Chapman has been cleared to return off the COVID-19 list. The left hander had initially been cleared in the intake testing when he arrived here from his home in Miami, but tested positive shortly after on July 9.
“Hopefully he'll be able to come and play catch today and try and get an idea of just where exactly, he's at,” Boone said. “We all know Chappy and how much of a workout freak and how well he takes care of himself and, we were even able to see some of that on Instagram, over the time he was away.
“I mean, the good thing was, he was never really sick. So he was able to really maintain probably a level of physical conditioning that some people wouldn't otherwise be able to. But we'll get a better evaluation about where he's at when we see him.”
Chapman made 60 appearances last season, earning 37 saves. He struck out 85 over 57 innings pitched.
GLEYBER'S BACK
Gleyber Torres was back in the lineup Friday night for the home opener against the Red Sox at Yankees Stadium, despite being removed from Thursday night's game with a sore right elbow. The Yankees shortstop had been hit with a pitch on the inside of the elbow and played just three more innings before it began to tighten up on him.
Torres went 2 for 4 against Boston.