Montgomery likely to start Sunday
TORONTO — Jordan Montgomery’s Triple-A stint didn’t last long enough for him to make a start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
While Joe Girardi didn’t name the rookie lefty as the Yankees’ starter Sunday night against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, the manager strongly hinted Montgomery will take CC Sabathia’s scheduled start.
“It’s a really good possibility it will be Monty on Sunday,’’ Girardi said of Montgomery following Jaime Garcia and Luis Severino. “I want to see CC [Friday] before we make the decision, but my inkling is that he came out of the game in a substantial amount of pain. Maybe the medicine is working, but let’s see.’’
Sabathia exited Tuesday night’s game against the Blue Jays after the third inning with pain in his right knee. He underwent an MRI exam Wednesday which didn’t unearth further structural damage to a hinge that has been aided by a brace since the middle of the 2015 season. To make room for Montgomery, Sabathia is a candidate to land on the 10-day disabled list.
When the Yankees reduced their rotation from six to five this past Sunday, it was Montgomery who was sent to Triple-A. His turn to pitch was Thursday, and he didn’t.
In 21 big league starts this year, Montgomery is 7-6 with a 4.05 ERA.
While the Red Sox altered their rotation so Cy Young favorite Chris Sale will face the Yankees in each of the remaining three series between the clubs, Girardi didn’t save Sonny Gray for the Red Sox on Friday night. Gray started Thursday’s 4-0 loss against the Blue Jays.
Clint Frazier said he was “kind of’’ surprised the strained left oblique injury landed him on the DL on Thursday, but understood the decision.
“It’s probably best for me to be on the DL and give it some time,’’ Frazier said of the mild strain, which will keep him from swinging a bat for a week.
Frazier said he was getting ready to pinch hit this past Saturday in Cleveland when he was taking some swings.
“Maybe it didn’t feel right, but it wasn’t pain. But the next day I was feeling it still,’’ Frazier said.