Betances to start the season on injured list
TAMPA, FLA. >> Yankees reliever Dellin Betances has inflammation in his right shoulder and will start the regular season on the injured list.
New York general manager Brian Cashman said an MRI was done on Betances on Tuesday after the 6-8, 265-pound right-hander continued to lack velocity in his fastball.
“He’s had a history in the past of slow starting, but this was a little bit more longer and more significant than we recalled,” Cashman said.
Betances, who normally reached the upper 90s, has topped at 92 or 93 mph throughout spring training.
He curtailed his offseason throwing program awaiting the birth of his child and was given permission to report a few days late for spring training.
“I feel like I was trying to rush it,” Betances said. “I just felt like I was behind the whole time. I’m not too concerned because I think it was just more for caution.”
Betances said he will not throw for three to five days.
“We need to give him a timeout, hit him with an anti-inflammatory so we can restart that clock,” Cashman said.
Betances went 4-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 66 games last season.
“Not the end of the world to have him miss a little bit of time and save some innings over the course of a long season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re obviously going to need him and count on him in a big way.”
Left-hander Stephen Tarpley is among those that could take Betances’ spot on the roster.
At least six Yankees will be on the injured list when New York opens the regular season against the Baltimore Orioles on March 28.
It includes Betances, starting pitchers CC Sabathia and Luis Severino, outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury, and Aaron Hicks, and shortstop Didi Gregorius.