Shoulder inflammation to sideline Severino in April
TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees righthander Luis Severino will miss all of April because of right shoulder inflammation.
Severino had been scheduled to start on opening day on March 28 but was scratched from his first planned spring training appearance on March 5. He felt discomfort after throwing his first slider in a pregame bullpen session.
“He’s going to have to start from scratch and have his spring training,” general manager Brian Cashman said Friday.
Severino is set to resume playing catch next week.
“I feel nothing right now,” Severino said. “I want to deal with this issue and be 100 percent.”
Cashman also said center fielder Aaron Hicks, sidelined since hurting his back during batting practice March 1, might not be ready for the opener against Baltimore.
Severino is a two-time All-Star who went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA last season.
Harper bruises foot when hit by pitch
Philadelphia outfielder Bryce Harper bruised his right foot when he was hit by a pitch during a spring training game at Clearwater, Fla., but manager Gabe Kapler said the Phillies were not overly worried about their new megastar player.
Initial X-rays were negative, the team said.
“Bryce has a right foot contusion,” Kapler said after a 3-2 victory over Toronto. “We’re confident that Bryce is going to be all right.”
Harper was struck by a 96-mph fastball from Toronto rookie Trent Thornton in the sixth inning. The slugging outfielder went down to the dirt, clutched his ankle and stayed on the ground for a few moments.
Harper, who recently signed to a record 13-year, $330 million, was playing his fourth exhibition. He is 0-for-5 in 10 plate appearances.
Harper had hoped to play three consecutive games starting Friday.
Odds and ends
Cleveland reliever Tyler Clippard is expected to miss three to four weeks because of a mild pectoral strain. Clippard, 34, who signed a minor league contract on Feb. 23 with an invitation to spring training, left an exhibition game early on March 9 against Colorado. He felt discomfort during the return to his throwing progression this week. … Washington center fielder Michael A. Taylor sprained his left knee and left hip and could “miss a significant amount of time,” according to Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Taylor, 27, exited Thursday’s exhibition game against Minnesota after making a diving catch in the second inning. He stayed in for one more hitter before he tried to jog to the dugout. The pain forced him to slow to a walk, and Friday’s MRI exam confirmed his injury. … Detroit righthander Michael Fulmer will not pitch in games in the near future, focusing instead on lower-body mechanics. “He took a step back to refine his lowerbody mechanics,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We have no timetable when he’s going to get back on the mound.” Fulmer won American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 but has struggled to return to that form. He was 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA last year, his season cut short in midSeptember because of knee problems.