Ailing DJ scratched from lineup, but COVID
DJ LeMahieu was scratched from Tuesday night’s lineup less than an hour before first pitch with what the team said was a stomach virus. The infielder’s COVID rapid test upon his arrival at the ballpark was negative, the team said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he “hopes” to have LeMahieu back in the lineup on Wednesday. First baseman Chris Gittens was nursing a sore Achilles, which had him on the injured list in the minor leagues this season, so the Yankees had to scramble. Back-up catcher Rob Brantly made his first big league appearance at first base Tuesday night.
LeMahieu may not be having the MVP-like year he has had in his two previous seasons, but the versatile infielder is critical to the lineup that he leads off every night. LeMahieu is hitting .269/.348/.363 with seven home runs and 37 RBI.
It’s another huge blow to a team that has been dealt many blows this month. The Yankees are currently managing an outbreak of COVID-19 cases with six players including Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela on the IL with the virus. It is their second outbreak of the season.
They are also without slugger Luke Voit, who is dealing with inflammation and a bruise in his surgically-repaired left knee.
WILL FLORIAL FLOURISH?
Estevan Florial finally got his chance to show off his power Tuesday night. The Yankees’ one-time top prospect crushed a hanging slider, sending his first career home run into the right field stands in the Yankees 6-4 win over the Phillies at the
Stadium.
“That was great,” the 23-year old said. “I mean, the atmosphere with all the fans…. I haven’t played around all those fans before. To be able to play in front of them to hit up my first homer. That was great.”
Florial was called up before Tuesday night’s game and was starting in center field for the first game of two against the Phillies at the Stadium. With Trey Amburgey, who had been called up when Aaron Judge went on the COVID-19 injured list, went on the IL with a strained hamstring Florial got the call.
“He’s got loads of talent. Tonight, he was really good, had really good at-bats,” Boone said. “Again, the quality of the bat was there too……. Then to get his first home, yes, but to have really good at bats too, that wasn’t an accident. We know that that’s what he’s capable of and hopefully he can continue to kind of give us that shot in the arm.”
Florial, whose career trajectory has been altered by injuries, is hitting .214/.314/.438 with 12 home runs, 68 strikeouts and 30 walks in 206 minor league at-bats this season.
LOAISIGA BACK
Jonathan Loaisiga, who had been on the COVID-19 IL since July 10, has returned to the team and was working on the field before the game Tuesday. The righthander will not be activated until possibly this weekend in Boston.
“This is his first day back with us. So he’ll go through a flat ground long toss workout today. I think the plan is for him to throw a bullpen tomorrow. And then possibly do another bullpen or a live (batting practice) and hopefully be in play for us maybe at some point over the weekend,” Boone said.
Loaisiga was the first of the six Yankee players on the COVID-19 list. Boone said there is the potential for lefty Nestor Cortes to come back at some point during that four-game series in Fenway, but