Andujar makes return to IL
Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar has a small labrum tear in
NEW YORK — No sooner do the injury-ravaged Yankees finally get a player back than two more go down.
On the same day the Yankees activated center fielder Aaron Hicks for the first time this season, third baseman Miguel Andujar and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga were placed on the 10-day injured list.
The moves Monday left the Yankees with 13 players on the IL. They’ve put 17 on the list for 18 total stints this year — Andujar now twice because of a small labrum right shoulder.
Loaisiga, the rotation replacement for injured James Paxton, has a strained rotator cuff and will be shut down for four weeks.
Despite all the missing firepower, the Yankees (2416 through Sunday) have received outstanding contributions from several unheralded fill-ins and began the day just a half-game behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.
Runner-up for the AL rookie of the year award in 2018, Andujar initially was sidelined from April 1 to tear in his May 3. He’s 3-for-34 since returning and is batting .128 overall (6-for-47) without an extra-base hit.
“Even though he’s passed everything and the strength test has been good and (we) rehabbed him properly, (we) do feel like the injury is certainly a contributing factor to some of the struggles,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Andujar has been trying to avoid surgery.
“We’ll see. He’s got a couple opinions going into this and both were not surgery suggested,” Boone said.
Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia returned from his rehab assignment because of left knee soreness. The Red Sox had hoped the 35-year-old former AL MVP and rookie of the year could play in three straight games at Double-A Portland. He’s expected to return to his assignment after a short delay, the Boston Globe reported. Pedroia has played in only six games with Red Sox this season after playing in only three last season following cartilage replacement surgery on the same knee.
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve may not begin rehabbing his left hamstring strain until the end of the Tigers series or when the Astros head to Boston for a weekend series, manager AJ Hinch said. Altuve, the 2017 AL MVP, was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. There’s no timetable for his return. Altuve is hitting .243 with nine HRs and 21 RBIs.
White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon and RHP Nate Jones will miss the rest of the season with arm injuries. Rodon, 26, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft, is scheduled for elbow-ligament replacement surgery Wednesday. Jones had surgery Monday to repair a flexor mass tear in his right forearm. Jones, 33, has struggled with injuries since he had a 2.29 ERA in 71 appearances in 2016.
Phillies: RHP David Robertson was told by Dr. James Andrews not to throw for three weeks to allow the flexor strain in his right elbow time to heal. Robertson hasn’t pitched since April 14. He’s expected to miss at least another month. Robertson is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in seven relief appearances.
A’s: In the A’s series opener against the Mariners, RHP Mike Fiers started for the first time since his second career no-hitter May 7 against the Reds . ... DH/1B Kendrys Morales was designated for assignment. Morales was acquired from the Blue Jays on March 27. The 13-year veteran appeared in 34 games and hit .204 with one HR and seven RBIs with the A’s. Morales is in the final year of a threeyear, $33 million deal and is due $12 million this season. In a corresponding move, the A’s activated OF Mark Canha from the 10-day injured list. He had been on the IL since April 29 with a sprained right wrist.
Twins: DH/OF Nelson Cruz was scheduled for an MRI after leaving Sunday’s loss to the Tigers with a left wrist injury. The 38-yearold six-time All-Star is hitting .270 with seven HRs and 22 RBIs in 35 games this season . ... LHP Martin Perez is day to day with a bruise after being hit in the left foot by a line drive Sunday. He expects to be ready for his next start. Perez, 28, is 5-1 with a 3.11 ERA this season.
Royals: INF Nicky Lopez, the Royals’ top prospect, will be called up and could make his major league debut Tuesday in the opener of series against the Rangers. Lopez, 24, was hitting .353 with three HRs and nine stolen bases in 31 games at Triple-A Omaha, and hit a combined .308 with Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2018. That earned him the organization’s George Brett Hitter of the Year award.