Good old rain KOs Yankee game tonight
After reshuffling their schedules last week because of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Marlins, the Yankees and Phillies will have to do it again this week, but only because of a tropical storm. The game scheduled for tonight in the Bronx has already been postponed in expectation of Isaiah arriving and bringing torrential rain, strong winds and potential flooding. The teams have agreed to make it up as part of a straight doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Philadelphia.
That will give the Yankees two doubleheaders in four days with one already scheduled against the Rays in Tampa on Saturday.
“We have days off built in at the end of this once we get through this weekend and in Tampa. Hey it’s 2020. Playing in this environment, we’ve got to be able to adapt to it and we feel like we’ll be able to,” Aaron Boone said. “But, it obviously creates some challenges. Obviously the seveninning doubleheader situation makes things a little bit more manageable, but we feel like we have all the people in there to kind of get through it.
“And we’ll kind of embrace the challenge of it all.”
PAXTON PROBLEMS
James Paxton’s fastball continued to float Sunday night, topping out at 93 mph in his start against the Red Sox. The Yankees’ lefty has not regained the upper-90s velocity that made him so effective last season since he had back surgery in February.
While Paxton was perplexed by the drop in his velocity, Boone said Monday the Yanks are sure he is healthy.
“I’m pretty confident it’s not physical, we feel like he’s healthy,” Boone said. “All the behind-the-scenes tests we do as far as measuring strength and output and everything, it’s very similar to what it’s been his entire career, he feels good.
“I think again it’s just unlocking that final, for whatever reason, really getting that extension and letting it go,” Boone continued. “So there could be a subconscious thing there where he is protecting it, but he’s talked about how well he feels and, you know, hopefully we continue to work through that.”
CHAPMAN SENT OUT
Aroldis Chapman was sent to the Yankees’ alternate training site in Scranton to build up to facing live hitters. The Yankees’ closer was cleared last week from the COVID-19 list.
“Now he has to go work out at our satellite camp, so he’ll get his workouts in at Scranton,” Boone said. “I believe he’s throwing today. And then I think he’s scheduled to have his first bullpen either tomorrow or Wednesday.”
Luis Cessa, who tested positive for COVID-19 before traveling to New York for the training camp, said Monday he is in Scranton also working out and should be ready to rejoin the Yankees soon.
A DAY OFF
Gleyber Torres and Luke Voit were out of the lineup Monday night. Torres has played in all eight games, though he was removed from one after being hit by a pitch in the elbow, and Boone wanted to give him a day.