Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he hopes outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury can resume baseball activities soon as he looks to make his season debut.

Boone said Ellsbury, who has yet to play this season with a hip injury and plantar fasciitis. was examined by Ellsbury last week and could soon get ready to "ramp up" baseball activities, according to Newsday's David Lennon.

Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said he hopes to return to the lineup for Monday's games against the Washington Nationals after sitting Sunday's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays with a sore knee, according to YES Network's Meredith Marakovits.

Gardner, who has played in 59 of New York's 67 games, underwent an MRI on Sunday morning that revealed some minor inflammation, but nothing more. He also did not play in Thursday's series-opener.

"It's not really something I've had an issue with in the past," he said, according to NJ.com's Brendan Kuty. "A little alarmed by it not really feeling like it should. Got an MRI this morning. Everything looked pretty good on that. ... It wasn't necessarily any one injury or any one thing. Just kind of an over-time thing, I guess."

CC Sabathia endured a rough second inning and the Yankees couldn't generate enough offense to overcome it in a 3-1 loss to the Rays on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Things to know about today's game

1) The Yankees struggled offensively aside from a fifth-inning solo home run by Aaron Hicks, who went deep for the eighth time of the year. Didi Gregorius hit his second triple of the season, but did not score

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia allowed three runs on 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings against the Rays on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

All three of the runs allowed by Sabathia came in the second inning before he settled in. Carlos Gomez drove in Willy Adames with an RBI double and Matt Duffy hit a two-run single to right field later in the inning.

Sabathia struck out 10 batters and walked just one. He threw a season-high 102 pitches on Sunday after throwing 101 pitches in the Yankees' 3-0 win over the Yankees on June 12.

Former Yankees players returned to Yankee Stadium on Sunday for the 72nd annual Old Timers' Day, which featured a three-inning game.

Nick Swisher, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, and Aaron Boone participated in the festivities for the first time.

Swisher hit a three-run home run and a two-run double, while Johnny Damon hit two RBI singles. Willie Randolph added a two-run single.

The Yankees (46-20) will go for a sweep of the Rays (32-38) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees RHP Luis Severino allowed just three hits in eight scoreless innings in the Yankees' 4-1 win over the Rays on Saturday afternoon.

Severino, who threw 102 pitches, struck out nine batters. Per Statcast, six of his nine strikeouts came on pitches that were thrown over 99 miles per hour, which has been accomplished only by one other pitcher in the last decade.

Severino allowed one-out singles in the first and second innings, but did not allow another hit until the seventh inning. He pitched a one-two-three eighth inning to finish his outing.

The Yankees beat the Rays to set themselves up with the chance for a four-game sweep on Sunday with a 4-1 win over on Saturday behind Luis Severino, Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton. >> Box score

Things to know about today's game

1) Luis Severino was simply too much for the Rays, as he spun eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. In his eighth and final inning, his fastball still hit 99.7 MPH.

Giancarlo Stanton led off the 5th inning with the Yankees leading the Rays 2-0 with Gary Sanchez on deck. Both sluggers mashed solo home runs, extending the Yankees' lead to 4-0. 

Watch below.

Jonathan Loaisiga's MLB debut was near perfect as the rookie threw five scoreless innings with six strikeouts, earning his first major league victory as the Yankees beat the Rays 5-0.

The postgame interviews went his way, too, as Rays manager Kevin Cash compared Loaisiga to Yankees legend Mariano Rivera. Loaisiga was taken aback when told of Cash's high praise.

"That's a big compliment right there," Loaisiga said...

The Yankees (45-20) continue their four-game series with the Rays (32-37) on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman is already on the prowl for a starting pitcher he could add to his playoff-contending team. But, Yankee fans, don't worry. Gleyber Torres won't be part of that deal. 

After his emergence as one of the top rookies in the MLB this season, Torres has backed up his top ranking among Yankee prospects so far this season. It has only made his trade stock rise higher, and Cashman could certainly use him as the featured player in a blockbuster trade. 

But, being that Torres has already established himself a favorite among the Yankee faithful to go along with his superb play, Cashman knows he wouldn't be seeing any friendly encounters on the streets of New York if he sent him packing...

"Johnny Lasagna" will definitely be eating his post-game meal with a big smile on his face after his Major League debut Friday night.

Yankees RHP Jonathan Loaisiga earned the win in his first big league start after shutting out the Rays through five scoreless innings.

The 23-year-old, who was pitching in place of the injured Masahiro Tanaka, began his night in the Bronx with a walk to Matt Duffy. Though it wasn't the start he would have hoped for, Loaisiga set down Jake Bauers on strikes for his first big-league strikeout. He would finish the inning on a double play as well.

Making his Major League debut, Jonathan Loaisiga led a stellar day on the mound for the Yanks as they shutout the Rays, 5-0, in the Bronx. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) Domingo German was impressive for a second consecutive start, striking out 10 batters en route to his first win of the season, after giving up a home run on the first pitch of the game. His final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 10 K, 2 BB. German has struck out 19 batters over his last two starts (12 innings). 

The Yankees (44-20) play the second game of a four-game series with the Rays (32-36) on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

It's hard to project what the Yankees will get out of Jonathan Loaisiga on Friday night when the 23-year-old righty makes his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium. He's only got 35 games of pro experience, after all, none above the Double-A level.

But two talent evaluators who have watched the Nicaragua native say he's a highly-competitive hurler with what one calls "big stuff," including a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can jump a tick higher.  

"Chip-on-shoulder type," says Dan Greenlee, the Marlins director, player personnel, who saw Loaisiga when he worked for the Yankees. Greenlee further describes Loaisiga like this: "Pounds zone. Fastball has velocity and swing-and-miss life. Power curveball and serviceable changeup. 

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

Our weekly minor league report canvases the Yankees farm system, providing updates about the status of the teams in action and the organization's top prospects.

Notes: Top-30 prospect rankings (via MLBPipeline.com) are club based with overall MLB ranks, if applicable, in parenthesis. Prospects currently in the major leagues will not be covered here. Team records and statistics are through games played June 14, 2018, unless otherwise noted.

For Domingo German and the Yankees, Thursday night's game against the Rays couldn't have gotten off to a worse start.

German allowed a home run to Matt Duffy on the first pitch of the contest. But, German would settle in for a quality start by giving up three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts and two walks to earn his first win in a 4-3 victory.

"It feels great," German said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "It has been a long battle for me to be able to win my first game in the big leagues. It means a lot. Hopefully I can relax a little more after getting the first one and keep battling."

Gleyber Torres and Aaron Hicks homered while Domingo German earned his first win of the season with a career-high 10 strikeouts over six innings. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) Domingo German was impressive for a second consecutive start, striking out 10 batters en route to his first win of the season, after giving up a home run on the first pitch of the game. His final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 10 K, 2 BB. German has struck out 19 batters over his last two starts (12 innings). 

The Yankees (43-20) begin a four-game series with the Rays (32-35) on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | Mets GM Sandy Alderson said last season that he wouldn't hesitate to make a trade with the crosstown Yankees. And with Jacob deGrom's name swirling around, the idea of a blockbuster between the two teams has been kicked around.

But it doesn't seem the Yankees have the stomach for what it would take to land deGrom.

One Yankees person told FanRag's Jon Heyman that the team would never trade Gleyber Torres or Miguel Andujar. If accurate, that should pretty much end any Mets/Yankees/deGrom fantasy. That same Yankees person also said the Mets would never trade deGrom across town... 

Yankees 2B Gleyber Torres is usually the youngest player to take the field on any given night. But, during this series with the Nationals, OF Juan Soto had him beat. 

The 19-year-old Soto is two years younger than Torres, and has been in the league for only 20 games including Wednesday night's 5-4 loss for the Yanks. It has certainly been a remarkable journey for Soto, who was fast tracked through Washington's farm system from Single-A to the big leagues this season. 

He showed the Yankees exactly why that was the Nats' decision as he belted two homers -- a three-run opposite-field shot in the fifth and a 436-foot bomb in the seventh. 

The Nationals got the last laugh as Juan Soto's solo shot in the top of the seventh was the decision maker in the 5-4 loss for the Yankees on Wednesday night. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) Sonny Gray continues to struggle at home, as he allowed four earned runs on seven hits over five innings. Gray didn't have the control of his arsenal on the mound as he did in Toronto in his previous start. He walked into this contest with a 7.22 ERA at home, and didn't do much to clean up that infalted number. Luckily, he had a couple pick offs and good plays in the field to keep the damage low. 

Yankees RHP Sonny Gray has been stellar on the road this season with a 2.83 ERA. When Gray throws in Yankee Stadium, though, that number rises drastically. 

Gray entered his Wednesday night start against Nationals with a 7.22 ERA at home. And he didn't do much to make that number fall either. 

In the top of the first, Gray let up back-to-back hits to Adam Eaton and Trea Turner who were sitting at the corners for Bryce Harper. Luckily, Gray dropped in a 3-2 curve ball to punch out Harper. Anthony Rendon, though, drove in the first run of the game with a sac fly to center field. 

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner knows what the rest of us do about the Yankees: They need starting pitching. 

The rotation was a question to begin the year, and it certainly didn't help when the injury bug found its way to it. Jordan Montgomery had to undergo Tommy John surgery last week, and most recently, Masahiro Tanaka was lost to injured hamstrings after tagging up on a fly ball during the series with the Mets this past weekend.

There needs to be more depth in the rotation, and Steinbrenner admitted Wednesday that the team has money to go out and get someone by the trade deadline. 

The Yankees (43-19) look to sweep their two-game series with the Nationals (36-28) on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Bryce Harper is a free agent after the season and he's in town this week to face the Yankees. So, is he Bronx-bound in 2019?

As has been the case since last season, Harper refuses to address questions about his free agent fate.

Aside fom the Yankees, Harper has been linked to the Cubs, Phillies, and Dodgers, among others. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Major League Baseball's Competition Committee met on Tuesday in Manhattan to discuss strategies for proposing changes to the sport, according to league sources.

The discussions, scheduled as part of the owners' meetings this week, came at a time when many dramatic proposals regarding pace of play are in the news (commissioner Rob Manfred addressed some of them in a recent Q and A with The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal). 

Two sources familiar with the committee's work indicated that some members were in favor of banning or limiting defensive shifts -- but other sources strongly cautioned that it was far too early to characterize any one issue as front-burner. Essentially, the committee is in discussion mode, batting around various proposals and ideas, and not ready to list which are most important. 

Didi Gregorius hit two home runs, CC Sabathia pitched five and 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Yankees shut out the Nationals, 3-0, on Tuesday night in the first game of a two-game set against the Nationals at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) Gregorius' first homer came in the second inning and his second came in the sixth. Gregorius' first homer of the night was the first time he had homered since May 23. He has tallied three multi-hit games this season.

The Yankees (42-19) welcome the Nationals (36-27) to the Bronx for a two-game series beginning on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Not only should the Yankees trade for Toronto starter J.A. Happ, but they should be aggressive in doing it as soon as possible.

With the divisional race likely to be tight all season, the Yanks must do everything they can to avoid a one-and-done wild card game. Every week matters. As such, they cannot afford to tread water while waiting for Masahiro Tanaka and his two sore hamstrings to heal.

Happ, 35, does not have no-trade protection, and would likely embrace the challenge of pitching in a New York pennant race anyway...

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archive

Dellin Betances is a four-time All-Star, however, a carryover from a rough finish to the 2017 season was clearly an issue for the Yankees early this season. Betances' performance to open the season had fans up in arms and frustrated.

Some went too far (I know, surprising for Yankees fans), calling for Betances to be traded or designated for assignment (neither was remotely on the table). The truth of the matter is Betances needed time to work through his mechanics, and he was being pushed into a role that is now beyond his abilities.

Yankees RHP Luis Cessa struggled with his command, walking four batters in his first rehab outing from a strained oblique with High-A Tampa on Monday.

Cessa, who hadn't appeared in a game since April 17 when he strained his right oblique in a two-inning outing against the Miami Marlins, allowed two runs, three hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings, throwing just 19 of 46 pitches for strikes.

He walked two of the first three batters he faced and gave up a run-scoring fielder's choice and an RBI single to Clearwater's Raul Rivas in the first inning before getting an inning-ending flyout. He threw only 12 strikes (compared to 16 balls) in the first inning.

While the Yankees have loads of MLB-ready depth in their lineup sitting in the minors, they will be forced to test that with their rotation.

After New York placed RHP Masahiro Tanaka on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, pitching coach Larry Rothschild said prospect Jonathan Loaisiga and journeyman David Hale could be temporary options as replacements in the rotation.

Meanwhile, the Yankees, who entered Sunday averaging the most runs per game in baseball, have MLB-caliber players like Clint Frazier, who has a .301/.385/.551 batting line with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Brandon Drury, whom the Yankees acquired in the offseason but was demoted to Triple-A after recovering from migraines following the success of rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar, sitting in the minors.

Yankees RHP Luis Severino suffered his first loss since April after giving up two runs and five hits in five innings in Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Mets at Citi Field.

Severino (9-2) allowed ran into trouble with two outs in the fifth inning, giving up a single to Jose Reyes and then a two-run home run to Todd Frazier that broke a scoreless tie.

"When you have two strikes, you have to make a good pitch,'' Severino said, according to the New York Post's Dan Martin. "You've got to throw that slider in the dirt. It wasn't a bad pitch, but he can do that on that pitch. He can get a slider.''

As Gary Sanchez continues to fall deeper into his current slump, the Yankees are continuing to brush off any worry regarding their slugging catcher. 

After his 0-for-4 performance to finish the three-game Subway Series on Sunday, Sanchez is now 4-for-his-last-53 (.079) and he has not put one out of the ballpark since his two-homer game in Kansas City on May 19. Overall, he is hitting /.190/.291/.430 this season. 

Before the season began, many salivated at the prospect of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the same lineup. However, the Yankees made it a point to say Sanchez was their most complete hitter...

The Yankees were shut out for the first time in 2018 after their eighth-inning rally fell through in Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. >> Box score

Things to know about Sunday's game

1) Down 2-0 in the eighth inning, the Yankees had runners on first and second thanks to Miguel Andujar's single and Aaron Judge reaching on two Jose Reyes errors on a neighborhood play on a potential double-play ball, but Gleyber Torres fouled out and Brett Gardner flied out to end the threat.

The Mets (27-34) and Yankees (42-18) will conclude their three-game series on Sunday night at Citi Field at 8:05 p.m. 

Domingo German turned in a quality start, Aaron Judge supplied the go-ahead home run, and the Yankees eked out a 4-3 win over the Mets on Saturday night at Citi FIeld.

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he believes Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (strained hamstrings) could return by the All-Star break, reports Sweeny Murti of WFAN.

Tanaka was been placed on the 10-day DL after getting injured in Friday night's game against the Mets. 

After reaching base in the top of the sixth inning, Tanaka tagged up on an Aaron Judge fly ball to right field. During the sprint to home plate, Tanaka can be seen pulling up a little bit as he scored.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said OF Aaron Judge is set to play on Saturday night after X-Rays on his thumb came back clean, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.  

Judge had X-Rays after jamming his thumb in the series opener against the Mets on Friday night at Citi Field. He was sliding into second base in the first inning when he jammed his thumb, but was not worried about it when asked after the game.

"Not too concerned," Judge said. "Just felt a little something but I'm good to go ... Feels good, a little sore, but nothing too bad. We'll see in the morning."

The Yankees (41-18) continue the Subway Series against the Mets (27-33) on Saturday night at Citi Field at 7:15. 

The Yankees have signed first-round pick C Anthony Seigler for $2.8 million, which was the slot value for the 23rd overall pick. 

Seigler is ambidextrous both at the plate and on the mound, though it is unlikely he'll be able to do both at the professional level. An 18-year-old catcher, he is listed as 5-foot-11, 200 pounds for Cartersville High School in Georgia.

According to Bleacher Report's Danny Knobler, Seigler could throw in the mid-80s left-handed and in the low 90s with his right arm, however he told Knobler he felt catching "is what's going to get me to the next level."

Seigler committed to the University of Florida. 

Masahiro Tanaka wasn't the only Yankee to come away from the team's 4-1 win against the Mets with injury worries. 

Aaron Judge jammed his thumb sliding into second base in the first inning and Aroldis Chapman battled through knee tendinitis. Neither over concerned about their ailments.

"Not too concerned," Judge said after the game. "Just felt a little something but I'm good to go ... Feels good, a little sore, but nothing too bad. We'll see in the morning."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | : Opening night of the 2018 Subway Series began in Metsian fashion, with injury announcements regarding two key pitchers -- Noah Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia.

By the middle of the evening, the plague had spread to the other team, when Masahiro Tanaka left after five innings with soreness in two hamstrings. Yes, you read that correctly. The hamstrings in both legs.

Before the night was over, the Yankees' trainer would visit Aroldis Chapman, and Jacob deGrom would have his heart broken yet again. It was not a good night to be a pitcher in New York.

The Yankees took the first game of this year's Subway Series, 4-1, over the Mets on Friday night at Citi Field.

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about today's game...

Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka had an early exit in his start against the Mets on Friday due to "stiffness in both hamstrings," the team announced.

After reaching base in the top of the sixth inning, Tanaka tagged up on an Aaron Judge fly ball to right field. During the sprint to home plate, Tanaka can be seen pulling up a little bit as he scored.

He went into the tunnel after walking back into the dugout, and manager Aaron Boone made the call to end his night. Jonathan Holder took over for him in the sixth...

The Yankees and Mets played their first regular season series in 1997 at Yankee Stadium as interleague play debuted throughout Major League Baseball.

With the 2018 Subway Series beginning Friday night, here are the top five Yankees moments...

5) Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez throws glove to first: June 5, 1999

The Yankees (40-18) open the Subway Series against the Mets (27-32) on Friday night at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m.