Injury Updates: Pettitte headed to the DL; Nuno Called Up

UPDATE: Andy Pettitte will head to the 15-day disabled list after his back continued to spasm during his start on Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners. Vidal Nuno will be called-up to replace him in the rotation. 

The New York Yankees are in the process of receiving some of their injured stars back in the coming weeks. Yet, that won't stop the injury bug from biting the team.

Each day this week, manager Joe Girardi has hinted at the return of Travis Hafner. He did not pinch hit in the series against the Mariners, but if he does well before tonight's game the designated hitter would be available to pinch hit. (Via Joel Sherman of the New York Post)

Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte's status for his next start is yet to be determined. There will not be a trip to the disabled list for the southpaw. 

The Yankees' catching depth is already dwindling with Francisco Cervelli on the 60-day disabled list and Christ Stewart's availability is day-to-day with a groin injury. Girardi plans on using him in emergency cases for the next few days. An MRI returned clean. 

 Infielder Alberto Gonzalez, who also pitched on Tuesday night, would assume the third string catcher's role. Bobby Wilson is at Triple-A, but not on the 40-man roster. He is hitting .174 for the Scranton Railriders.

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17 years after first save, Rivera's dominance continues

John Wettland was unavailable for the final two outs of the New York Yankees' game against the Anaheim Angels on May 17, 1996 after getting hit by a ball in batting practice. All it would take would be his signature cutter to get a ground-out by Garret Anderson to second base to complete a double play and lock up Mariano Rivera's first career save.

Fast forward 17 years and we find ourselves marveling every time Rivera warms up in the bullpen, because we know it may be among the last.

Behind the plate for the beginning of history was Joe Girardi, who now makes the call before the playing of Enter Sandman before the ninth inning.

This year, the season began with questions as to whether or not Rivera would be able to dominate or even pitch close to his caliber before the torn ACL. 16 saves in 16 opportunities later, those questions are gone.

He has not allowed a run in his last five outings and has an ERA of 1.56 on the year. FanGraphs' Drew Sheppard put together a pretty cool analysis on his ability to break bats and although no official stat is recorded, he's been tracking it in 2013. Sheppard also notes that Rivera's win probability added, which measures the difference in win expectancy between the start and end of play, leads all Major League relievers with 1.86. The only person with a better statistic is Seattle Mariners starter Felix Hernandez.

The man's job is simple to describe. Rivera enters the game and is suppose to get three outs and close out a victory. Add in pressure from the atmosphere, match-ups, injuries to the defense and things get a lot more difficult, but there is only so much that can be analyzed for a man that dominates with one pitch.

2012

2013

Velocity may be down, but it has not changed the frequency of what he throws. The horizontal and vertical movement of his pitches are still there, if you want to peruse more of his charts.

In his first nine games, before the injury in 2012, Rivera had only eight strikeouts. He's on a similar track in 2013, if we were to look at such a small sample. The strikeouts may be down a bit, but he is still getting the job done.

Whether it's slamming it with a strikeout or gently closing it with a grounder to the infield, Rivera is shutting the door somehow for the save.

That's one thing that doesn't change 17 years later.

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Pettitte Leaves Early as Yankees Drop Finale With Seattle

Richard Perry/The New York Times

The Seattle Mariners defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 to take the three-game set in the Bronx. Andy Pettitte, who was going for his 250th victory, left the game early due to a tight left trapezius muscle.

The Mariners got the scoring started in the second inning when doubled, scoring Kendrys Morales. David Adams answered for New York in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Curtis Granderson on a double of his own to tie the game at one.

Seattle added one more in the fourth when Brendan Ryan singled home Michael Morse, giving them a 2-1 lead. In the top of the sixth, Morse blasted a solo home run off of Shawn Kelley and gave the Mariners a 3-1 advantage. The Yankees scratched their way back with another run from a Robinson Cano RBI single.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth. After Austin Romine lined out to second base, Brett Gardner hit a single to left field. Gardner stole both second and third base but could not be brought home. Jayson Nix completed an 0-for-5 day with a strikeout and Cano grounded out to seal the win for Seattle.

The bigger storyline is Pettitte, who had thrown 4 and 2/3 innings before leaving the game. He allowed two earned runs. There has been no word on his status.

Former Yankee Hector Noesi got the start for Seattle and pitched rather well, going only 4 and 1/3 with three hits and an unearned run.

The Yankees drop to 25-16 on the season. They will welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to town tomorrow.

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Dellin Betances called-up

Dellin Betances was recently sent to the bullpen in Triple-A Scranton. His time there wouldn't last long as the New York Yankees have called him up to join their bullpen and send down Brett Marshall. 

This will be Betances' second stint in the Major Leagues after making two appearances for the Yankees in 2011. He leaves Scranton with a 5.40 ERA in 28.1 innings. He has only allowed one run in his 4.1 innings of relief. He will assume a reliever role with the Yankees.

Marshall threw 108 pitches in relief of Phil Hughes last night. That's the most for a Yankees reliever since Esteban Loaiza threw 109 against the Red Sox in 2004.

Jobs Chamberlain is another reliever that could rejoin the major league roster soon. 

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Hughes falls flat as Yankees lose 12-2 to Mariners

Ugliest start of Hughes' career? Very likely. 

Phil Hughes may have put together the worst start of his career on Wednesday night as he failed to get out of the first inning and allowed seven runs in the Yankees 12-2 loss to the Mariners at Yankee Stadium.

Against one of the worst hitting teams in the American League, Hughes only threw 36 pitches and surrendered six hits. He walked two batters before even getting two outs in the inning.

The deadliest blast was a grand slam by Raul Ibanez that made it 6-0. Just months ago, Ibanez was a member of the Yankees and brought fans to their feet at Yankee Stadium with a game winning homer in Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series.

The Yankees were undefeated in games Vernon Wells hit a homerun in, but even after his solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, things were an early uphill climb to keep things undefeated.

By the ninth inning, Wells found himself playing second base as Alberto Gonzalez pitched and got Robert Andino to fly out. Chris Stewart, who provided the Yankees' second run on a homerun, was playing first base. Things got weird.

Preston Claiborne only allowed one hit in his 2.1 innings of work as he also struck out two batters. Brett Marshall's major league debut was not as smooth as he may have wanted. The 23-year-old went 5.2 innings while allowing five runs on nine hits, two of which were homeruns.

The Yankees look to get their offense clicking tomorrow night as they face Aaron Harang, who enters with a 1-4 record and 7.30 ERA. Andy Pettitte will take the hill for the home team.

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David Adams Called Up

The New York Yankees have added David Adams to the major league roster. Chris Nelson's name has been designated for assignment to make room for the infielder. 

Adams will bat sixth and play third base in his debut tonight. 

Here is the Yankees lineup:

1. Brett Gardner CF

2. Robinson Cano 2B

3. Vernon Wells DH

4. Curtis Granderson LF

5. Lyle Overbay 1B

6. David Adams 3B

7. Ichiro Suzuki RF

8. Chris Stewart C

9. Alberto Gonzalez SS

Phil Hughes will take the hill for the Yankees as the starting pitcher. 

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Yankees lead majors with 25 wins with 4-3 victory over Mariners

Upon the exit of the King, the Sandman eventually made his way into the ballgame on Tuesday night as the New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3 at Yankee Stadium. 

The pitching duel of CC Sabathia and Felix Hernandez went . Sabathia exited the game after surrendering 10 hits, but also had 10 strikeouts. Hernandez was pulled from the game after six innings after he looked hurt fielding a Granderson dribbler to him. Earlier in the game, he collided with Lyle Overbay on a play at first base. The end result was not pretty for the Mariners as Hernandez was credited with an error and obstruction that put Overbay on-base. 

Curtis Granderson returned to the Yankees lineup for the first time all season. He opened his year by grounding into a 6-6-3 double play. He ended the night 1-for-3 with a strikeout and walk. 

The offensive heroics go to Overbay and Robinson Cano. The second baseman tied the game with a two-run double in the seventh inning and Overbay gave the Yankees the lead with a sacrifice fly-out.  

David Robertson pitched one inning not allowing any damage to cross the plate after getting into a jam with a runner of first and second without any outs. Mariano Rivera’s entered in the ninth inning and recorded his 16th save of the season and 624th of his career. He is on pace for 66 in 2013. Safe to assume his knee is doing fine. 

The Yankees bullpen has done a remarkable job not allowing any runs in the last 24 2/3 innings. 

With the win, the Yankees add to their first place lead in the American League East as they sit alone two games over the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. Both lost on Tuesday night. Their 25 wins are the most in baseball. 

Note: Joba Chamberlain pitched in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders game. He completed his inning of work in 12 pitches, nine for strikes, while facing five batters. 

Travis Hafner was diagnosed with tendonitis in his shoulder, but could still be available for the Yankees on Wednesday. 

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Curtis Granderson may return tomorrow

New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson could rejoin the major league roster on Tuesday. He is expected to play in one more game in Triple-A. Two nights ago, he went 2-for-5 with a homerun for the Railriders. 

It is not completely certain if Granderson will return to his regular spot in centerfield as soon as he returns. Manager Joe Girardi says he could toy with the idea of having Granderson play a corner outfield spot. That was the direction Girardi was taking things before the outfielder broke his forearm in Spring Training. 

Earlier in the day, the team optioned Brennan Boesch to Triple-A.

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Yankees Split Doubleheader in Cleveland

The New York Yankees completed an eight-game road trip with a make-up doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. The Indians won the first game, 1-0, while the Yankees took the second, 7-0.

The first game was a pitcher's duel featuring David Phelps and Justin Masterson. Phelps was the tough-luck loser, going 6 and 2/3 innings and his only run came from a Jason Kipnis solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Phelps gave up four hits and five walks but struck out seven.

Masterson was masterful for the Tribe, throwing a complete game, four hit shutout. He fanned nine Yankee batters and walked only three. Brett Gardner, Brennan Boesch, Chris Nelson and Chris Stewart were the only Yanks who recorded a hit.

The Yankees got game two started quickly when Vernon Wells drove in Gardner on a fielder's choice ground out in the top of the first to put the Yanks on top.

Vidal Nuno gave the Yankees everything they could ask for, throwing five shutout innings. He struck out three batters and allowed only three hits in his first major league start. Trevor Bauer went 6 and 2/3 innings and gave up only two earned runs for Cleveland.

After five innings of scoreless baseball, New York broke the game open in the seventh inning against Nick Hagadone. Corban Joseph started the rally with his first career hit, a double. Austin Romine brought Joseph home on another double, extending the lead to 2-0.

Jayson Nix made it 3-0 on a bloop single, scoring Romine and moving Gardner to third. Wells drove in his second run of the game on an RBI single, making it 4-0 Bombers.

Lyle Overbay brought home two more on a double to center field and Ben Francisco scored him on a throwing error by third baseman Mark Reynolds.

Adam Warren threw four impressive innings in relief of Nuno. Warren let up only two hits and struck out three batters.

The Yankees head back home for a six-game home stand against the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. CC Sabathia will face Felix Hernandez in the Bronx tomorrow night.

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Yankees' Depth to be Tested in Doubleheader on Monday; Joseph Called Up

The New York Yankees are currently slated to play in a double header today in the middle of a 16-game streak without breaks. Mother nature is the only one that could schedule an off-day soon. The team takes on the Cleveland Indians as part of a make-up for a rain-out earlier in the year.

With a doubleheader today, Corban Joseph was called up from Triple-A as the team's 26th man. He will be making his major league debut in the first game as the first baseman and since manager Joe Girardi will not start Robinson Cano at second base twice, Joseph may see that territory in the second game.

Alberto Gonzalez may start both games at shortstop due to Jayson Nix's left leg discomfort. No injury has been announced.

The depth of this team has already been tested all season with injuries, but on long trips and series another challenge is thrown their way.

In the bullpen, Mariano Rivera and David Robertson have seen action in four of the last five games. While it shows Girardi's confidence in his late inning relievers, the offense will have to provide the off-day for those two pitchers by not keeping the game close and scoring more runs.

The job of blanking the oppositions' bats will fall on David Phelps and Vidal Nuno today. The first game is slated to begin at 12:05 p.m. with the Yankees facing a familiar face in former Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. The night cap is scheduled to begin 20 minutes after the final out of the first game. Trevor Bauer will be the Indians' starter for that game.

Here is the Yankees' lineup for Game 1:
1. Brett Gardner CF
2. Ichiro Suzuki LF
3. Robinson Cano 2B
4. Travis Hafner DH
5. Brennan Boesch RF
6. Chris Nelson 3B
7. Corban Joseph 1B
8. Chris Stewart C
9. Alberto Gonzalez SS

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