David Phelps to the DL and the state of the Yankees’ starting rotation
The New York Yankees’ have officially placed David Phelps on the disabled list according to Daniel Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal.
Yankees’ right-hander was taken out of his start on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox after just two innings of work. Phelps has struggled with elbow tendinitis in the past and has apparently been dealing with it for the past three or four weeks. Phelps under went an MRI that confirmed that nothing has been torn and he is still just dealing with the issue of tendinitis.
Girardi says phelps going to DL, wont pick up a baseball for two weeks. Had another mri, still just tendinitis. But needs time off.
— Daniel Barbarisi (@DanBarbarisi) August 4, 2014
This is yet another big blow to the Yankees however. Despite dealing with the elbow inflammation Phelps greatly helped the Yankees in July posting a 2.97 ERA over five starts. It was help that the Yankees definitely needed because Phelps will now join fellow starters Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova and C.C. Sabathia on the disabled list. Compared to his counterparts, however, it appears that Phelps’ stint on the disable list will only be brief one.
Girardi said he's hopeful Phelps wont take much longer than the 15 days on the DL.
— Daniel Barbarisi (@DanBarbarisi) August 4, 2014
It’s still the customary 15-days but compared that to the time that his fellow starters have spent and will continue to spend on the disabled list it is minimal.
Sabbathia and Nova are both out for the season. Sabathia’s knee injury is more recent but Nova has been out since late April. Nova is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Pineda is nearing a return to the mound but has spent a sizable amount of the season out of the rotation. The right- hander was first suspended for using pine tar to get a better grip on the ball during a game against the Red Sox and before returning began suffering from back issues. He’d strained a teres major muscle in his back during a simulated game and upon reinstatement was added to the disabled list.
Tanaka whose time of return, if he is able to return at all, from a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament remains unclear. Although the star starter did take his first step in the right direction having been cleared to throw early Monday. He did so without any serious pain because according to manager Joe Giraradi, Tanaka is scheduled to throw again Tuesday.
Girardi: tanaka will play catch again tomorrow, with more distance and intensity.
— Daniel Barbarisi (@DanBarbarisi) August 4, 2014
While things are looking up for Tanaka and Pineda, Phelps going on the disabled list is still terrible news for the injury riddled Yankees’ pitching staff.