YANKS READY
Voit’s rough season continues with IL stint
Luke Voit’s season of discontent is seemingly over. The slugger who led the majors in home runs in last year’s pandemic-abbreviated season, was placed on the injured list before Thursday’s game with another issue to his surgically-repaired right knee.
Voit, who had not played in a week, pinch hit in Wednesday night’s loss. The slugger came out of the box hard on a ground out and ended up limping off the field.
“It’s the knee. He woke up pretty stiff today and he’s limping around pretty good today,” Aaron Boone said before Thursday night’s series finale against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.
“I think just kind of aggravated it when he slammed on the brakes there and, we think it’s kind of a bone bruise that can be a result of the surgery.
“That’s kind of an off and on [issue] for him,” the Yankees manager continued. “So we’ll get more tests when we get back to New York and see exactly what we’re dealing with, but he is going to go on the IL.”
Voit has played in just 68 games this season. He began the year on the IL after needing March surgery to partial meniscus tear of his right knee. He was back on the IL right before the All-Star break with a bone bruise. That opened the door for the Yankees to trade for lefty-hitting first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Voit has played in 39 games since the Yankees acquired Rizzo from the Cubs.
It was a frustrating season all-around for Voit who had just 11 home runs and was hitting .239/.328/.437 with a .437 OPS and his opportunities were few and far between down the stretch. Boone did not start him against lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu on Tuesday night or in a big pinch-hit spot against Red Sox lefty Darwinzon Hernandez on Saturday night.
With four regular-season games left, it’s unlikely Voit would be ready to be added to a postseason roster unless the Yankees make a long run.
The Yankees returned Albert Abreu to their bullpen as he corresponding move.
GOOD INJURY NEWS
Joey Gallo, who could not hit in the ninth inning of the Yankees loss to the Blue Jays after being hit by a pitch in the right forearm
Wednesday night, came through testing fine and while he wasn’t in the starting lineup Thursday, Boone said he is available.
“X-rays and a CAT scan, CT scan, were good last night. So we got good news there. He’s feeling a lot better today and was able to go through his pregame routine and everything,” Boone said. “So there’ll be an active player for it’s not in the starting lineup but to feel like there’ll be an option.”
A day off might be good for Gallo, who is 1-for his last 21 at-bats. He’s had nine strikeouts and one walk in that span. Known as a very good defensive outfielder, Gallo has had two big defensive gaffes in the past week. Wednesday night, he watched a shallow pop up dropped between him and shortstop Gio Urshela.
“We’ve all seen what a talented outfielder he is,” Boone said, “so I think just making sure that he remains aggressive out there and understands obviously that’s one of those balls where it’s kind of in between, where you got a long way to go, but making sure that he is making sure that he takes charge in those situations. Just making sure that message gets sent.”
THE FINAL TURN
After attempting to add Jameson Taillon back to the five-man rotation on Tuesday, which ended with him re-injuring his ankle, the Yankees will stay on turn until Sunday. That means Nestor Cortes will start Friday’s series opener against the Rays at Yankee Stadium, followed by Jordan Montgomery on Saturday. Taillon, who was not put on the IL and did not rule out pitching again this season, would be lined up for Sunday, but that seems unlikely. Gerrit Cole said after giving up five runs Wednesday night that he is ready to pitch on short rest if the Yankees need it.
They’d prefer to avoid it and keep Cole for Tuesday’s Wild Card game.
“Everything’s on the table, we’ll see. That feels like a ways away still right now but yeah that’s, of course it would be on the table,” Boone said of the ace pitching in a must-win game. “We’ll see how he does over the next few days. Hopefully it’s not a factor. If we can take care of business, certainly it’s something we’d have to consider.”
Cole has pitched to a 6.35 ERA over his last four starts, since leaving his Sept. 7 start with left hamstring tightness.