The Yankees’ bullpen took another hit on Wednesday.
Keynan Middleton landed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, with right shoulder inflammation.
The Yankees said it’s possible he could return before the end of the season, but that remains to be seen.
“It’s inflammation, so I don’t think he’s going to be shut down for very long,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Tigers. “The thought is hopefully he can begin throwing in a couple days and we will get him back. We’ll just have to see.”
Lefty reliever Matt Krook was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Middleton’s spot in the bullpen.
Middleton had been a quality addition to the relief corps since the Yankees acquired him from the White Sox at the trade deadline.
In 11 games with the Yankees, the right-hander had given up just one run across 13 ¹/₃ innings while striking out 17.
It marked the second time in the last four days that the Yankees have lost a reliever to the IL.
Ian Hamilton suffered a groin strain over the weekend, though the Yankees also believe he can get back before the end of the season.
In two games with the Yankees this season, Krook had given up seven runs across three innings. He has been much better at Triple-A — pitching to a 0.92 ERA in 29 ¹/₃ innings — though his command has been an issue.
“Krook’s a tough at-bat,” Boone said. “He’s not easy to hit, especially for a lefty. It comes down to strike-throwing for him. If he’s throwing strikes, he can be really, really tough.That’s been one of the things that’s been inconsistent for him throughout his career. But when he’s in the zone — just from his stuff and his funky delivery — he’s a tough guy to square up.”
Nestor Cortes (left rotator cuff strain) is scheduled to begin a throwing program this weekend after he was shut down for four weeks.
But, as expected, Boone conceded that Cortes will likely not be able to build back up in time to return this season.
“But I think we are planning on putting him into a throwing program,” Boone said. “I guess you never say never and you never know where this season ends up going.”
Having Cortes go through a throwing program could be valuable to help figure out whether he ultimately will need surgery on his rotator cuff.
The left-hander is currently on the IL for the second time this season because of the rotator cuff strain, though as of last month he said surgery had not been discussed.
Austin Wells (0-for-4) made his Yankee Stadium debut on Wednesday, catching for Clarke Schmidt, who allowed three runs over 6 ¹/₃ innings.
Giancarlo Stanton’s 119.5 mph line drive in the first inning ended Tigers starter Matt Manning’s night — and season.
The low liner drilled Manning’s right foot and ultimately fractured it, the Tigers later announced. Manning was somehow able to recover in real-time and throw out Stanton at first, but was in obvious pain as he walked off the field and did not return.
The Tigers were forced into a bullpen game for the rest of the night.
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