Elbow doom

Bombers shut Eovaldi down for two weeks

An MRI exam of Nathan Eovaldi’s right elbow taken Monday unearthed inflammation in the hinge that will shut him down for two weeks.

On the surface that doesn’t sound ominous, but there are 26 games remaining in the season, and the Yankees are in a tight race with the Blue Jays for the AL East title. Furthermore, at 143, Eovaldi leads the Yankees in victories, innings pitched (154 ¹/₃) and starts (27). Eovaldi’s last two starts haven’t been sharp, and Joe Girardi admitted as much after his 5 ¹/₃ inning outing against the Rays on Saturday in a 32 loss in which he allowed three runs, five hits and walked four. Eovaldi’s previous outing was Aug. 29 in Atlanta, where he gave up five runs and eight hits in five frames of a 206 victory.

What this means for the Yan kees’ rotation isn’t known until Girardi explains his plans.

Girardi said Monday he was going to stay in rotation after dropping CC Sabathia into the mix Wednesday against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Sabathia has been on the DL since Aug. 24 with a right knee problem.

Staying in rotation indicated Girardi might employ a sixman rotation with Sabathia’s reentry. That would benefit not only Sabathia but Masahiro Tanaka, Tuesday’s starter.

However, with Eovaldi shelved for at least two weeks, Girardi could go with a fiveman deal. If he wanted to go with six, the manager could insert Bryan Mitchell into the rotation. The Yankees prefer to give Tanaka an extra day of rest when they can.

On Monday, Girardi said he had the option of changing his mind about staying in rotation, and one possibility was using Tanaka against the Blue Jays on Sunday at the Stadium. Michael Pineda, who wasn’t impressive Monday in an 86 win over the Orioles, is scheduled to start Sunday if the Yankees stay in rotation.

Tanaka pitching Sunday would give him four days rest. The Yankees prefer giving Tanaka five days between starts, but with what could be at stake, they might be tempted to give Tanaka the ball instead of Pineda.

“Right now that is what we are planning on,’’ Girardi said of staying in rotation after Sabathia’s start, which would mean Tanaka wouldn’t face Toronto. “But everything is subject to change.’’

Eovaldi was scheduled to start against the Blue Jays on Friday night in the second game of a critical fourgame series. The Yankees’ victory Monday and the Blue Jays losing to the Red Sox whittled Toronto’s lead over the secondplace Yankees to a half game.

Sabathia played catch before Monday’s game with the large brace he will use on the right knee when he starts Wednesday.

“Can’t even tell it’s on,’’ Sabathia said.