We recap the latest New York Yankees news regarding Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and the winner of the fifth starter competition.
The New York Yankees enter Tuesday’s off-day with two wins in their last two games. Michael Pineda easily pitched his best game since the 16 strikeout game on Mother’s Day, and the offense came alive for the second day in a row.
Best of all, the Yankees were able to exhale a sigh of relief after finding out Gary Sanchez’s arm injury isn’t serious.
On Saturday, the Yankees removed Sanchez from the game after he felt something in his arm swinging on a 3-2 pitch. The Yankees placed Sanchez on the 10-day DL with a bicep strain, but they knew Sanchez was going to be out longer than the initial 10 days. However, the Yankees got some relatively good news regarding their catcher following Monday’s game.
For those who have asked (hi @injuryexpert), Gary Sanchez's injury is a Grade 1 strain of the right brachialis muscle.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 10, 2017
The bad news is Sanchez will be out for four weeks, but manager Joe Girardi believes Sanchez could be on the field when the four weeks are up. Considering how bad the injury looked on Saturday, this is actually the best case scenario.
The Yankees were also without Greg Bird since Saturday. On Saturday, it was strictly Birds ankle keeping him out of the lineup. But on Sunday and Monday, Bird’s health was the reason he sat on the bench.
Joe says Greg Bird did not eat all day yesterday and he is sitting again
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) April 10, 2017
With the off-day today, the Yankees are hoping Bird could be available on Wednesday. But it’s a crummy time for Bird to catch the flu, especially since half the Boston Red Sox roster–and the Red Sox play-by-play announcers–are currently battling illness. We just hope this doesn’t spread around the clubhouse and cause a flu epidemic in New York.
The Yankees initially wanted Luis Severino to start on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. However, the Yankees made a slight switcheroo, slotting Severino for the series finale on Thursday. So who was going to start on Wednesday afternoon?
Jordan Montgomery has won the fifth starter battle and will start on Wednesday, Girardi says.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 10, 2017
Basically, everyone saw this coming. Montgomery dazzled in spring training during his last few starts and caught everyone’s attention by mowing down the A-Lineup for the Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays. Anyone that can strike out Evan Longoria and Jose Bautista with ease deserves heavy consideration.
As a corresponding move for Montgomery, the Yankees optioned Chasen Shreve to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees still have to make a 40-man move for Montgomery, meaning someone is going to be designated for assignment. In the meantime, the lefty has been transferred from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to extended spring training until that “official” move happens.
So what happens to Chad Green, the loser of the fifth starter competition? Well, he earned a promotion too — although we won’t see him in pinstripes in the very near future. Green’s option was transferred from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
The Yankees will enjoy their third off-day in the last 10 days, but game action will resume tomorrow afternoon. Montgomery will get the ball for the Bronx Bombers and Blake Snell will start for the Rays. First pitch on Wednesday afternoon is at 1:05 p.m., and the game will air on the YES Network.
