After last night's game, the Yankees are just lucky to have a full team to put on the field.
Tonight's lineup: Gardner 7 Jeter 6 Ellsbury 8 Teixeira DH McCann 2 Soriano 9 Solarte 5 Johnson 3 Roberts 4 Nuno 1
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) May 13, 2014Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, and Jacoby Ellsbury make up the top of the order. Mark Teixeira is in the lineup at DH, but he seemed to struggle running the bases last night, so we'll see how that goes. Brian McCann is behind the plate and Alfonso Soriano is in right field. Third baseman Yangervis Solarte, first baseman Kelly Johnson, and second baseman Brian Roberts make up the bottom of the order.
Removed from the game in the 7th inning last night, Carlos Beltran reportedly hyperextended his elbow in the batting cages under the stadium. An MRI showed the presence of a bone spur in his elbow. He has received a cortisone shot in hopes that the pain subsides, however, if it's ineffective, surgery would be the next step. We will know if it works in the next few days, but no matter when it happens, surgery looks to be in Beltran's future at some point.
If you're keeping a tally of injured Yankees, we're still waiting on word about Ichiro Suzuki, who was unavailable last night because of a sore back and knee. Shawn Kelley is also still experiencing pain in his back as well. No one is going on the DL just yet, so no one is being called up to replace any of them. Expect this shortened bench/bullpen to come into play at some point in the next few days.
UPDATE:
More bad news: ichiro says he's probably a no- go tonight with lower back pain
— wallace matthews (@ESPNNYYankees) May 13, 2014Shawn Kelley going on DL (back). Calling up OF Zoilo Almonte.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) May 13, 2014Calling up Zoilo Almonte will cover the loss of both Beltran and Ichiro, at least for the time being.
On the prospect front, Ty Hensley has yet to pitch in the minors this season as he's still making his way back from last year's double hip surgery. According to his personal Twitter feed, he threw another bullpen and will face live hitters for the first time on Friday. Hopefully he'll make it back at some point this season.