Somebody figures out how to score on Sears
CLEVELAND — JP Sears finally gave up a run. After starting his big-league career with 12.2 scoreless innings, Sears was charged with a run in the Yankees’ 2-0 loss to the Guardians on Sunday.
The Yankees lefty was just activated Sunday morning to take the spot of Ron Marinaccio, who was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Sears had been a starter of late, but Aaron Boone saw this as a chance to use him in different spots.
Sunday, he pitched 2.2 innings, allowing a run on three hits. He struck out one.
“A number of different roles,” Boone said when asked how Sears would be used. “Obviously,he’s built up as a starter and we’ve seen him start for us. So, it could be in long relief on a day where we need a lot of innings, but it very much could be like a Marinaccio-type role or even on a given day, some high-leverage situation.
“So I have a lot of confidence in him, and certainly where he’s at in his development and the kind of season that he’s having,” Boone said. “So we feel like we’re adding the guy that isn’t just filling a roster spot for us, but can absolutely have an impact for us in the stretch.”
Sears began the season with the Yankees and made two spot starts, pitching 10.2 scoreless innings.
Sears was part of the Yankees’ plans to manage the workload of Luis Severino, who pitched just 27.2 innings over the last three years because of injuries, and Nestor Cortes, who has never pitched more than 93 innings in a season, along with Clarke Schmidt and eventually Domingo German. This move doesn’t necessarily change that.
“I mean, obviously Clark’s made one start down there, he’ll make another start. So try and get him built up to be an option in that way, but I wouldn’t rule out JP doing that also,” Boone said. “We’ll see what we need over this next stretch. Obviously, we’re going into an off day tomorrow. And then we have an off day next Monday. And then we have the All-Star break. So maybe its not that immediate need, but again, the season can change on a dime, and so we’ll be ready for that and JP still remains an option for that.”
REBUILDING CHAPMAN
The Yankees feel the only way
Aroldis Chapman can get back to being effective on the mound is to pitch. So the former closer, who walked three batters and was pulled on Saturday, will be back out there soon.
“I brought him in obviously with the big lead there in the seventh,” Boone said. “So again, just looking to get him in situations where he can be successful. Want to get them back out there. Not necessarily force it back out there today or tomorrow or Tuesday or whatever, but definitely want to get him back out there and in these situations.”
Saturday was Chapman’s first appearance since he went on the IL in May.
INJURY UPDATES
German was scheduled to start Sunday in Double-A, his third minor-league rehab start. He is expected to make at least one more rehab start, likely two. His rehab assignment clock would expire just after the All-Star break. That would coincide with when the Yankees really have to start thinking about managing Severino and Cortes’ innings and German could be a solution to that.
German began the season on the IL with right shoulder impingement syndrome.
Jonathan Loaisiga threw a live batting practice in Tampa on Saturday. The right-hander has been on the IL with right shoulder inflammation since late May.
“I heard it went well. I think he threw about 21 pitches.I heard he threw the ball really well. Which will be in line with what we’ve been seeing in his bullpen and stuff,” Boone said. “He looks really good.”
Boone said that Loaisiga will have another live BP in Tampa on Tuesday and then the Yankees will evaluate whether it is time for him to begin his rehab assignment.
Catcher Ben Rortvedt, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in May, has begin baseball activities and is also nearing a rehab assignment.
BANUELOS A BUC
The Yankees could see Manny Banuelos again fairly soon. The lefty who finally made his pinstripe debut, nine years after he was signed out of Mexico as a phenom last month, was dealt to the Pirates Sunday afternoon. Banuelos had been designated for assignment last week.
The Yankees received “cash considerations,” back for Banuelos.