The Yankees have been decimated by injuries this year, with roughly a dozen key players going down. Check back here for the latest updates on the walking wounded. 

10-day IL: Aaron Judge, Jonathan Loaisiga, James Paxton, Giancarlo Stanton, Troy Tulowitzki, Miguel Andujar

60-day IL: Jacoby Ellsbury, Didi Gregorius, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Greg Bird, Jordan Montgomery

The Yankees look to jump back into first place when they face the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Yankees are using Chad Green as an opener one year after the Rays began their opener experiment. ... DJ LeMahieu leads off for the Yankees, while Kendyrs Morales is in there as the DH, hitting fifth. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees were unable to duplicate Friday's magic and fell against the Rays in 11 innings on Saturday, 2-1. >> Box score

Six Takeaway's from Friday's game...

1) Luke Voit led off the bottom of the 11th with a single to try and get another rally going against Jose Alvarado, but Gary Sanchez hit into a game-ending double play while Luis Cessa allowed a one-out solo home run to Austin Meadows in the top of the 11th as the difference in the game. 

The Yankees had another injury scare on Saturday afternoon. 

Masahiro Tanaka was removed from a 1-0 game after six innings with a right shin contusion after he took a Yandy Diaz comebacker off his leg. 

The right-hander underwent X-rays which came back "negative," according to the team. After the game, Tanaka told reporters that he doesn't know if he'll be able to make his next start and will wait to see how he feels tomorrow.

The Yankees will look to carry the momentum from Gio Urshela's walk-off single Friday night as they aim to stay atop the AL East over the Rays on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. 

Yankees notes

The Yankees are in sole possession of first place in the AL East for the first time since June 26 of last year. ... Urshela's hot bat has him bumped up to the sixth spot after going 3-for-4 with the game-winning hit on Friday. He enters Saturday's game hitting a slash line of .347/.398.500 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 98 plate appearances this season and is hitting .350 with 10 RBI in the month of May. ... Gary Sanchez will get a half-day with the day game after a night game but stays in as a DH with impressive numbers against Snell. Sanchez is 4-for-11 with three of those hits being home runs against the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. 

Despite being completely decimated by injuries, the Yankees have managed to get contributions from everyone who has been asked to fill a void as they now find themselves atop the AL East. And it's all been a pleasure for owner Hal Steinbrenner to watch.

"Considering the adversity we've faced in the first two months of the season, it's phenomenal the job these guys have done," Steinbrenner told the Associated Press Friday at a Yankees extended spring training game before the big-league club came back in the ninth to defeat the Rays, 4-3, and wrest control of the division.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees walk it off, beating the Rays, 4-3, at Yankee Stadium to take the AL East lead. >> Box score

Six Takeaway's from Friday's game...

The Yankees open a three-game series against the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays on Friday at 7:05 p.m. after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in a doubleheader on Wednesday and taking two of three from last week at Tropicana Field. 

Yankees notes

Gleyber Torres enters Friday's game red-hot, blasting three home runs in Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles. Torres has gotten a hit in 17 of his last 18 games and is hitting .352/.387/.606 with four home runs and 11 RBI in that span. ... Gary Sanchez is also coming off a strong performance in which he collected two hits, including his team-leading 12th home run. 

The Yankees have pulled Clint Frazier three times in the past five games in favor of the team having a stronger defense for the later innings.

And Frazier is more than understanding about it.

"It's the better play, I think," Frazier said, according to NJ Advance Media's Brendan Kuty. "Obviously, I've had some stuff in the past that shouldn't have happened that did. It's not like it's unwarranted, you know?"

The Yankees tried, but didn't succeed in having 3B Miguel Andujar avoid season-ending surgery on his torn labrum in his right shoulder.

After suffering another tear following his extensive rehab, Andujar just didn't seem right when he returned to the Yanks, and an MRI revealing another small labrum tear explained why. So Andujar opted for season-ending surgery that will be performed by Dr. Christopher Ahmad on Monday. 

This is not what the Yankees wanted to see from their young third baseman, who was the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up a season ago. GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone praised the development of Andujar being key for the Yankees' future all offseason, and he was a main reason why the team was "lukewarm" on Manny Machado in free agency. 

The Yankees beat the Orioles, 5-3, in the first game of today's doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Six Takeaways from Wednesday's game...

1 ) Domingo German held the Orioles to one run in seven innings of work, his longest outing of the season. German scattered six hits, walked one batter and struck out eight. He is now 8-1 (MLB-best eight wins) with a 2.50 ERA, as he continues to be the best starter in the Yankees rotation.

It was the scenario the Yankees didn't want to see occur, but it finally became the only option. 

The team announced on Wednesday night that Miguel Andujar will undergo surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder. It will be on Monday with Dr. Christopher Ahmad performing the surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. 

Andujar initially saw the injury arise at the beginning of the season, where he only played in three games before hitting the Injured List. While and MRI revealed a torn labrum, the Yankees believed he could rehab it cautiously so they could avoid surgery. 

After beating the Orioles in Game 1 of their doubleheader, the Yankees go for the sweep on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

Yankees notes

Aaron Hicks, who was set to make his season debut Monday after missing the first 40 games with a back injury,.is in the lineup. ... Luke Voit's struggles continued in Game 1, with him now hitless in his past 21 at-bats after going 0-for-4. 

The Yankees beat the Orioles, 5-3, in the first game of today's doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Five Takeaways from Wednesday's game...

1 ) J.A. Happ allowed a first-inning home run and another run in the second and fourth innings. Happ's two homers allowed give him 11 for the season, placing him with the second-most in the league, behind Orioles starter David Hess. Happ left with the lead with one out in the sixth inning is now 3-3 on the season with a 4.44 ERA.

After two rainouts, the Yankees are set to play Wednesday for the first time since Sunday, with Game 1 of a scheduled single-admission doubleheader set for 3:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

Aaron Hicks, who was set to make his season debut Monday after missing the first 40 games with a back injury, is not in the Game 1 lineup. He'll likely start in center field in Game 2. Brett Gardner is in center while Mike Tauchman, who was called up to be the Yankees' 26th man for the doubleheader, begins Game 1 in left field. ... DJ LeMahieu is on fire as the Yankees' leadoff hitter. Over his last 14 games, he's 23-for-54 (.426) with one homer, four doubles, 11 RBI, five walks, 10 runs and two stolen bases.

Aaron Boone struggled during a Tuesday afternoon news conference to describe Giancarlo Stanton's shoulder injury, but the Yankees remain unconcerned about Stanton's health, and consider him to be progressing.

According to people familiar with the situation, Stanton's shoulder discomfort -- which the team called a shoulder strain shortly after Boone was unable to name the injury -- is not serious enough to prevent him from facing live pitching in Tampa.

If he continues in this vein with no setbacks, he should be in extended spring training games in a week or so, then would begin a rehab assignment.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

When Domingo German stepped on the mound as a Yankee in 2018, the talent and the hint of potential success in the big leagues was evident. However, German failed to consistently deliver positive results and eventually fell out of favor down the stretch.

None of that matters to the Yankees now because it is clear that German gained valuable experience from all those major-league reps.

The short-term future looks bleak for Yankees slugger Miguel Andujar, who faces potential season-ending surgery, but the Bombers have found themselves another bat. 

The Yankees acquired switch-hitting first baseman/DH Kendrys Morales from the Oakland A's in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. 

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred Jonathan Loaisiga to the 60-day IL. 

Another day, another washout for the Yankees. 

Tuesday's game against the Orioles was postponed due to inclement weather, a day after they postponed Monday's game against Baltimore due to unplayable field conditions. 

The team will make up Tuesday's game as part of a day-night doubleheader on Aug. 12, beginning at 1:05 p.m. and will play a single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday to make up Monday night's postponement.

The Yankees placed Miguel Andujar back on the injured list with his lingering shoulder issue Monday, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday an MRI once again revealed a small labrum tear. 

The third baseman will make a decision in the next day or so whether he will undergo surgery or attempt to rehab the injury once again without landing on the operating table.

Andujar's first labrum tear didn't quite heal as everyone hoped after he missed 28 games from April 1 to May 3, and the 24-year-old struggled mightily following his return.

Monday's Yankees-Orioles game at Yankee Stadium was postponed due to weather.

The teams will play a doubleheader single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m.

Luis Cessa was set to face David Hess on Monday, while J.A. Happ and Andrew Cashner would have squared off on Tuesday. The Yankees have yet to decide how the rainout will affect their rotation.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Gio Urshela, the surprise star of this season, may personify the success of the next-man-up Yankees, but even with all of his big hits, he's not the team MVP to this point. D.J. LeMahieu owns that unofficial title, so clutch and consistent that his play prompts an intriguing question:

Could a non-slugger win the AL MVP Award in this launch-angle era when the only way most hitters even consider beating the infield shift is by going over it -- way over it?

The Yankees' starting rotation took another hit on Monday when they placed Jonathan Loaisiga on the 10-day IL with a right rotator cuff strain. 

Loaisiga will but shut down for four weeks with no throwing and joins left-hander James Paxton, whom he was replacing in the rotation, as well as ace Luis Severino among the Yankees starters on the IL. 

Paxton is making progress and will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and the Yankees have suggested he would not spend more than three weeks on the IL. 

Brian Cashman has been a real "pain in the a--" for other GMs around baseball, at least according to Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane. 

Beane told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Monday that he used to tease Cashman that the Yankees GM wanted to run the Bronx Bombers like a small-market team. Now, through the first 40 games of the 2019 season, it certainly feels like Cashman has gotten that chance. 

Despite opening the season with a $203 million payroll, the Yankees have weathered the storm of an incredible amount of injuries to star players to a 24-16 record, sitting just a half-game out of the AL East lead.

The Yankees announced Monday afternoon that Luis Cessa will start Monday night's series opener against the Orioles instead of Jonathan Loaisiga.

Loaisiga was placed on the injured list, retroactive to May 10, with a right rotator cuff strain and will be shut down for four weeks before he can begin throwing. RHP Chance Adams was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his roster spot. Loaisiga had a rough start last Wednesday against the Mariners, allowing four runs in four innings on six hits and two walks while striking out three. 

Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees

Moneyline: BAL +190/NYY -230
Over/Under: 8.5
Series: BAL +355/NYY-435
First pitch: 6:35 p.m. ET
TV: YES
Probable pitchers: David Hess (1-4, 5.50 ERA) vs. Luis Cessa (0-0, 3.32 ERA)

With the New York Mets getting the day off to start the new week, let's explore betting a Yankee game, shall we?

The Bronx Bombers will welcome a familiar division foe into town for a three-game set beginning tonight, as they'll look to continue their mastery of the last-place Orioles. New York has already faced the O's six times this year, winning four of those meetings, and they were 12-7 against Baltimore a year ago.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

Every Monday, we'll be taking a look at how the Yankees' top prospects (their MLB.com Yankees Top 10 rankings are in parenthesis) are faring.

Albert Abreu, RHP, Double-A Trenton (No. 3) -- ETA 2020

Abreu followed up a six-inning scoreless outing with a one-run effort, but he lasted just 4.2 innings. The right-hander continued to allow too many baserunners (1.91 WHIP in 26 innings), which is preventing him from pitching deep into games. Abreu did lower his ERA to 4.73 on the season.

Masahiro Tanaka threw seven dominant innings in the Yankees' 7-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run.

"I think looking back a couple of games, I think today was one of the best [starts] I threw," Tanaka said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com's Dawn Klemish.

Tanaka threw just 73 pitches, but he was effective. He needed just nine pitches to get through the fourth inning, seven in the fifth and four in the seventh. He retired 12 batters in a row between the second and sixth innings before Austin Meadows' solo home run ended Tanaka's shutout.

Masahiro Tanaka was dominant for 7.0 innings before a power outage delay and ninth-inning eruption put things out of reach as the Yankees beat the Rays, 7-1, on Sunday afternoon in Tampa Bay. >> Box score

Five Takeaways from Sunday's game...

1) Blake Snell came out of the gate firing, dominating the Yankees through the first 4.0 innings while striking out 10 batters. But the Yanks nicked him in the fifth inning, with Mike Tauchman driving an RBI double to center field and DJ LeMahieu striking an RBI single as New York went up, 2-1. 

With the Yankees leading the Rays, 3-1, in the top of the ninth inning at Tropicana Field on Sunday afternoon, the lights went out -- literally.

A power outage at The Trop caused the game to be delayed, with the Rays coming off the field.

While the power remained out, fans tried to help by using the lights on their cell phones. Points for creativity...

Click below to see...

The Yankees acquired some Valeran Steel ahead of Sunday's "Game of Thrones" episode.

New York claimed infielder Breyvic Valera off waivers from the Giants on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred Greg Bird to the 60-day injured list.

The Yankees look to get back on track when they conclude their series with the first place Rays on Sunday at 1:10 p.m.

Yankees notes

Gleyber Torres is getting a day off due to still being sore and the day game after night game, manager Joe Girardi said before the game. ... Gary Sanchez is also off on Sunday. 

The Yankees trail the Rays by 1.5 games in the AL East and the quest to overtake them could be about to become harder.

The Rays, who have primarily used Diego Castillo and Jose Alvarado to close games this season, have been "keeping in touch" with free agent reliever Craig Kimbrel, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. 

Along with the Rays, there are a bunch of other teams who have been keeping in touch with Kimbrel, such as the Mets.

Chad Green is back with the Yankees.

The Yankees optioned southpaw Nestor Cortes Jr. to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre after he allowed three runs in two innings in Saturday's loss to the Rays before activating Green prior to Sunday's game. 

Manager Aaron Boone indicated before this weekend's series against the Rays that Green could be back soon.

With the division lead on the line, the Yankees couldn't take down the Rays for the second straight night, losing 7-2 at Tropicana Field. >> Box score

Five Takeaways from Saturday's game...

1) CC Sabathia got the start in this one, and it was the long ball that did him in. Luckily, it was only two solo shots that were hit off the big lefty that totaled his earned runs on the night. Overall, his line read five innings, three hits, two earned, four walks, and two strikeouts. 

The Yankees are without some of their best hitters like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Hicks, but they continue to win games. 

So what's been the secret for this makeshift ballclub that has been without some of their All-Stars? Timely hitting.

It was showcased in the form of Gio Urshela, a player who recently has had the flair for the dramatic, on Friday night in Tampa. In the sixth with the Yanks down by one, he had a clutch, two-out single to take the lead and New York didn't look back from there. There was also DJ LeMahieu's walk-off single against the Mariners earlier this week -- a moment that wouldn't have happened if Urshela didn't go deep to tie the game. 

The Yankees look to take full control of the AL East with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Tropicana Field with the first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. 

Yankees notes

Gleyber Torres is in the Yankees' lineup batting fifth after he was hit in the right elbow in the eighth inning on Friday. He stayed in the game but there was some concern if he would need to sit out on Saturday. X-rays came back negative and he was just a little swollen but said he "felt good." ... Gio Urshela is batting eighth and playing third base as he continues to come up with big hits for the Yankees. Urshela is hitting .300/.318/.450 with a home run and nine RBI in high leverage situations this year and is 5-for-10 with five RBI with two outs and runners in scoring position.

If the Yankees plan on adding a pitcher this summer, a trade for Madison Bumgarner may not be so easy. 

Aside from building an enticing package to offer the San Francisco Giants, the 29-year-old left-hander submitted a no-trade list comprising of eight teams, one of which is the Yankees, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. 

Bumgarner, who is eligible to become a free agent in the offseason, has been rumored as a possible trade deadline chip as the Giants sit in last place 8.5 games out of the NL West lead.

While the Yankees are slowly, but surely, getting healthy again they had a scare in Friday's 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Gleyber Torres was hit by a pitch in his right elbow in the eighth inning on a 92 mph sinker from Casey Sadler.

Torres, 22, appeared to be in pain and was evaluated by the trainer but managed to stay in the game.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives: The Yankees beat the Rays, 4-3, at Tropicana Field on Friday night. >> Box score

Five Takeaway's from Friday's game...

1) Domingo German was cruising through four innings, but once the Rays lineup began its third time to the plate, things fell apart. German had surrendered just two home runs this season coming into the game, but allowed two homers in the fifth inning alone, which was enough to cough up the lead. German, who still got the win and is now 7-1, finished with a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB and 5 K.

J.A. Happ didn't take kindly to Dee Gordon's criticism.

Gordon was irate Thursday after being hit in the wrist by a 90 mph Happ fastball in the third inning, saying he was "pissed off" after being forced to leave the game. He ripped Happ for what he believed was Happ throwing near his head.

"He was potentially injured and I don't know if he will miss time or what, but it was kind of an ignorant comment,'' Happ told the New York Post on Friday.

The Yanks hit the road for a big series against the first-place Rays with the three-game set starting Friday at 7:10 p.m.

Yankees notes

New York enters the series trailing the Rays by 1.5 games in the AL East. ... Gio Urshela returns to the lineup after not starting Thursday because of a knee issue. He still found a way to make a huge impact, driving in two runs as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 3-1 win. Urshela starts at third while Miguel Andújar serves as the DH. ... Luke Voit is back at first base after getting a day off on Thursday. ... The Yankees have won six of their last seven series.

While the Yankees may wait until after the MLB draft to pursue free-agent starting pticher Dallas Keuchel, there reportedly appears to be mutual interest.

The Yankees, Fancred's Jon Heyman said on WFAN on Thursday, are considered one of the favorites to sign Keuchel, who is still a free agent after rejecting the Astros' $17.9 million qualifying offer last offseason.

"I think the Yankees will be there for Keuchel," Heyman told WFAN's "Joe and Evan." "I think at this point, there's not a bad chance that the Yankees end up with Keuchel. Keuchel, from what I understand, would love to be in a big market, and the suitors for the most part to this point have not been of that ilk. ... If I had to pick one team out of the 30 right now, I would go with the Yankees."

Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon was angry at Yankees starter J.A. Happ after the southpaw hit Gordon in the wrist with a 90 mph fastball in the third inning of the Yankees' 3-1 win Thursday.

Gordon had to leave the game after getting hit to undergo X-rays, which were inconclusive, and was mad at where Happ was pitching him.

"I was pissed off," Gordon said, per the Seattle Times. "It was the second time he threw up by my head. You've got to get the ball down. If you can't throw that pitch, don't throw it. I got a family. You need to get the ball, you need to get the ball the (expletive) down. That's twice. If you can't throw that pitch, don't throw it. That's how I feel."

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Phil Nevin looks at the list, which includes his name, and chuckles. In a quirk of baseball history, Nevin, the Yankees' third-base coach who played 12 seasons in the Majors, sits alongside luminaries such as Hank Aaron and Ted Williams in this particular group of players.

"I probably wish I was on another list that they're on," Nevin jokes.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees beat the Mariners, 3-1, to take the four-game series at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Six Takeaway's from Thursday's game...

Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted last night that he would look into the use of pine tar by Mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi during his start last night.

So what did he find? 

"We looked at it and have some thoughts about it, but I don't really have anything public to say about it," Boone told reporters before tonight's series finale against Seattle. "...We'll try to handle it behind the scenes, how we think is proper."

After a tough night on Wednesday, the Yankees look to win their four-game series against the Mariners Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

Yankees notes

D.J. LeMahieu starts at first base, his first start there since 2011 when he was with the Cubs. It's just his sixth career appearance at first and his second of the season. Luke Voit is out of the starting lineup. ... Gio Urshela is not in the lineup with a left knee issue, but should be available off the bench. Miguel Andújar starts at third with Thairo Estrada starting at second. ... Gary Sánchez is batting second for the first time since 2017.

Major League Baseball's language on pitchers using pine tar to improve their grip could not be more clear. Rule 6.02 (c)(4) states that "a pitcher shall not ... apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball."

In practice, the issue is far more nuanced.

Many pitchers use pine tar, sunscreen and other substances, and most hitters don't mind, because they prefer that pitchers are able to control the potentially deadly sphere in their hands. Pine tar helps them do that, so baseball's unwritten rules view it as acceptable. It is not seen as egregious as scuffing or doctoring a ball.