John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter | : By the time the clubhouse opened to the media, some 20 minutes after the Yankees finished off a kick-em-while-they're-down sweep of the Red Sox, the place looked and smelled like the aftermath of a Fourth of July fireworks show.

Turns out it was the aftermath of a dance party instead, complete with a fog machine and strobe lights, which apparently has become the Yankees' standard post-win celebration in this young season.

Only extra-heavy on the fog for this one.

Of all the Yankees currently sitting out on the Injured List, Luis Severino may be the most mind-boggling of them all. 

Severino's injury started with shoulder inflammation, an injury that usually needs rest to heal. But, after feeling more pain during his throwing program, Severino returned to New York to be reevaluated. Well, that evaluation included an MRI that revealed a lat strain, which has shut down the righty with July being his potential comeback.

But how can shoulder inflammation turn into a lat strain? Severino, who was at Yankee Stadium during the Yankees' win over the Red Sox on Wednesday night, believes that the strain actually occurred when he initially suffered an injury back on March 5.

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

The Yankees rallied in the seventh inning to beat the Red Sox, 5-3, at Yankee Stadium. >> Box Score

Six takeaways from Tuesday's game…

The Yankees (7-9, five games behind Rays for first place in AL East) will look to sweep the Red Sox (6-12, last in the AL East) in the quick two-game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.

Yankees Notes

James Paxton was electric for the Yankees last night as he set the tone in the win. The Yankees helped by plating eight runs on the night. ...Mike Tauchman collected his first Major League homer with a three-run bomb to right field. Clint Frazier also added a homer to right center that was just out of the reach of Mookie Betts. 

Ever since he broke in with the Phillies a decade ago, J.A. Happ has relied on rhythm and precision to carve up hitters. During his best seasons, Happ's results have outpaced the quality of his actual repertoire.

In order to achieve this, Happ relies on the subtleties of confidence and controlled aggression. When he's on, he works quickly, pounds the edges of the strike zone, and tricks himself into being unafraid that the ball might drift out over the middle of the strike zone and end up crushed over an outfield wall. He's one of those players who's good because he believes he's good.

So far this season, Happ has not been able to find that mindset. He is overthinking between pitches, and finding the ideal pace elusive. He is tentative and cerebral -- two qualities that undermine him when they emerge too strongly.

The first installment of The Rivalry in 2019 wraps up this evening at Yankee Stadium, where the Red Sox and Yankees will play the back-end of their quick two-game set.

As it is, you'd normally be thinking of taking an over when this pair of rivals get together, as they boast two of the best offenses in all of baseball. That feeling is turned up when two struggling starting pitchers are set to do the bidding on the mound.

This was the James Paxton the Yankees thought they were getting when they traded for the 30-year-old southpaw this winter.

After two subpar outings, the Yankees left-hander looked like an ace against the Red Sox on Tuesday night, tossing eight shutout innings and allowing just two hits while striking out 12 in the Yankees' 8-0 victory at Yankee Stadium. 

His fastball reached 99 mph in the eighth inning as he became the first Yankees pitcher with at least 12 strikeouts and two hits or fewer against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in franchise history. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives: The Yankees, behind stellar pitching and plenty of offense, beat the Red Sox, 8-0, at Yankee Stadium. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Tuesday's game…

1 ) James Paxton was absolutely electric tonight. It was the first time he went to the mound in pinstripes, and just unleashed on the opponent. Paxton surely wasn't tipping any pitches, throwing 110 on the night, 80 of which were four-seam fastballs. Those fastballs averaged 97 mph with the fastest topping out at 99.2 mph. Paxton's final line - 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K - could not have come at a better time for the Yankees. The Yanks traded for Paxton with this kind of a performance in mind, and hopefully for New York he builds on it.

While Greg Bird became the latest member to join the Yankees' already crowded Injured List on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone addressed the other players and their progress ahead of tonight's contest with the Red Sox. 

Among the 12 members (including Bird), Miguel Andujar's status (shoulder) is still in question. Boone told reporters that he continues his program, which saw an increase in throwing as well as his normal hitting. While Andujar seems to be responding well to the treatment -- he hasn't had a setback -- it is still too early to make the determination for surgery to repair the shoulder tear or not. 

Other than Andujar, Aaron Hicks and Troy Tulowitzki appear to be progressing nicely. Hicks hit off a tee and soft toss as well as throwing and running before the game. He should be taking part in batting practice on Wednesday or Thursday. 

The Yankees (6-9, 5.5 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East) face their archrival Red Sox (6-11, 6.5 games behind Tampa Bay) for the first time this season at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. 

Yankees Notes

The Yankees snapped have lost four of their last five games. ... Since the start of 2013, the Yankees and Red Sox are 57-57 against each other. ... Tuesday's game will mark the first time since 1992 both teams will play each other with a losing record at least 15 games into a season. ... DJ LeMahieu leads off for the second straight game. He was 0-for-4 in the top spot of the order Sunday against the White Sox. ... Aaron Judge has hit safely in five of his last six games. 

The schedule makers snuck in an early Yankees/Red Sox series, searching for a narrative among teams expected to be sitting at the top of the American League East standings. Instead, the clash is being described as one to determine which club will utilize the series to turn its season around.

The Yankees (6-9) have battled a slew of injuries that leaves almost a complete -- and quality -- ball club on the injured list. Despite the injuries, the Yanks have held the lead in 14 of its 15 games, meaning there is clear underperformance buried in the squad's record.

The Red Sox (6-11), coming off a World Series title, are caught in the often traditional throes of the impact of a long postseason at the outset of a new year. The Sox are mostly healthy, but the club has had a difficult time getting fully on track. As both teams look to reverse course, which areas can the clubs expect improvement in and which aspects might not get better?

With Greg Bird heading to the IL due to a plantar fascia tear, the Yankees have called up slugging lefty-hitting first baseman Mike Ford from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Here are three things to know about him...

He was crushing it in Triple-A, but is an 'old' prospect

Ford was hitting .410/.467/.897 with five homers and four doubles in 10 games (45 plate appearances) this season in Triple-A. And while those numbers are incredibly impressive Ford -- at 26 years old -- is an "old" prospect.

His 2019 performance is also an aberration compared to how he's performed during his minor league career. In seven minor league seasons, Ford has hit .271/.372/.442 with 71 homers in 561 games.  

The injury bug has bitten the Yankees once again. 

The team placed Greg Bird on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left plantar fascia tear. The Yankees called up Mike Ford from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Bird's roster spot. 

Bird, who broke camp with the team after a strong Spring Training, had not been making the most of his opportunity in the big leagues. Following a solo homer on Opening Day, which accounted for his lone RBI through 10 games and 35 at-bats, Bird managed five more hits -- all singles. 

Misery loves company, and the Red Sox will be a welcome sight for the Yankees in the Bronx.

Because this quick two-game series represents an opportunity for the Yanks to get back on track as both clubs have been mired in poor starts, and after these two teams met in the ALDS last season, nobody would've predicted their first meeting of the 2019 season would be under these circumstances.

Gio Gonzalez has a decision to make this week.

There is an April 20 opt-out in the minor deal deal Gonzalez signed with the Yankees last month, giving him the chance to return to free agency if he hasn't been called up to the majors by Saturday.

"Right now, I'm not even thinking 30 teams," Gonzalez recently told the New York Post. "If it's not good enough for this team that I'm with right now, that's all that matters. I want to perform for the team that has me in their minors right now. Hopefully something happens."

Every Monday, we'll be taking a look at how the Yankees' top prospects (their MLB.com Yankees Top-30 rankings are in parenthesis) are faring.

Jonathan Loaisiga, SP, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (No. 2) - 2019

Loaisiga, who is ranked No. 64 among all MLB prospects per MLB Pipeline, just returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after a brief stint with the Yankees. The 24-year-old made two starts with the Yanks, allowing two runs in 7.0 innings. With the Yankees' multiple health issues in the rotation, it will not be surprising to see Loaisiga once again in the Bronx. Until then, he will work with SWB with the concentration being to build up innings -- something he has yet to do in a professional season (68.2 innings is a career high that he set back in 2013).

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Maybe the pomp of the first series with the Red Sox this season is just the tonic the lackluster Yankees need in what's been a blah start to their season. 

Nothing like a visit from a bitter rival to jolt a club. And make no mistake: The Yankees need a jolt. Badly. 

Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka attributed his struggles in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox to his ineffective split-finger fastball.

"It wasn't coming out of my hand right," Tanaka said, according to the New York Post's Zach Braziller. "It's not just today, it's been like that for a little bit. I think it comes down to mechanics. I definitely need to make some adjustments, so it's an effective pitch."

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

The Yankees lost the series rubber match to the White Sox, 5-2, at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Sunday's game…

1) Masahiro Tanaka was cruising … and then he wasn't. Tanaka had six strikeouts and faced just 10 batters in the first three innings. In the next inning-plus, Tanaka allowed eight baserunners, including three uncharacteristic walks. Tanaka was charged with five runs, four of which came on a Tim Anderson grand slam. Tanaka was fantastic over his first three starts, so hopefully this was a simple bump in the road as the Yanks need the right-hander on top of his game.

Winter is here.

With Game of Thrones set to return Sunday for its eighth and final season, New York athletes gave their predictions and talked about theories for how the saga will end.

Click below...

For Aaron Hicks, the good news is that he's resumed limited baseball activities. The bad news is that exactly when he'll return to game action still appears foggy. 

Hicks has begun throwing, running, hitting off a tee and taking soft-tosses. Prior to the Yankees' game against the White Sox on Sunday, he stopped by the clubhouse so the team could see him up close.

He also guessed that he could begin taking on-field batting practice in about a week. Hicks has been out since Spring Training with a back issue that led to a pair of cortisone shots. Beyond the possibility of batting practice, a timetable for Hicks' return remains unknown. 

James Paxton was hit hard against the Astros during his last start, allowing five runs on eight hits (including two home runs to Jose Altuve) and three walks as his ERA for the season rose to 6.00.

Paxton, who threw 95 pitches in just 4.0 innings, revealed Sunday what was likely part of the reason why he struggled to get outs.

The left-hander told reporters that he was tipping his pitches against the Astros -- specifically his knuckle curve and specifically when runners were on second base, with Astros runners relaying the info to the hitters. 

As the Yankees deal with an injured list as long as a CVS receipt, any shred of good news is welcome.

So there is a glimmer of optimism regarding Giancarlo Stanton, who went on the injured list on April 1 with a biceps strain. After hitting off a tee and soft toss on Saturday for the second time, Stanton said, "I think I'm on track."

"Didn't take 100 percent swings, but I took good progress swings," Stanton said Saturday, according to the Daily News.

The Yankees (6-8, 4.5 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East) wrap up their series with the White Sox (4-9) at Yankee Stadium on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Yankees Notes

The Yankees snapped their four-game losing streak on Saturday. ... Masahiro Tanaka, who gets the start on Sunday, has allowed one run in each of his first three starts this season. ... Aaron Judge, who homered on Saturday, is on pace to finish the season with 46 homers and 243 strikeouts. 

The Yankees beat the White Sox, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx >> Box score

Six takeaways from Saturday's game…

1) CC Sabathia, coming off the injured list to make his first start of the season, was spectacular. In five innings, Sabathia allowed just one base runner (on a single) and struck out three. Sabathia, who will be retiring at season's end, is now 11 strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career, which should aid his bid to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Before we concern ourselves with Sabathia's career worth, right now the Yanks can use some of the stopper stuff he's possessed the last couple of seasons. He provided it Saturday.

Injured Yankees reliever Dellin Betances (shoulder impingement) isn't expected to return to the team until at least six or seven weeks from now, but he felt relieved on Saturday after receiving a cortisone shot. 

"There's relief just because there's nothing structurally wrong," Betances said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "I know with this shot that in three weeks, with rest, I know everything will be right and I'm excited to help the team out and finish this season."

Seven weeks from this point brings us to the early part of June, when the Yankees hope to have many of their other walking wounded back, including Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, and Troy Tulowitzki. Miguel Andujar could also be back before then if he is able to avoid season-ending surgery. 

The Yankees (5-8) host the White Sox (4-8) at Yankee Stadium on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.

Yankees Notes

The depleted Yankees have lost four games in a row to fall 5.5 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. ... CC Sabathia returns from the DL to make his first start of the season. ... Aaron Judge has struck out four times over his last two games and is on pace to strike out 249 times this season. 

Brian Cashman provided an update on Dellin Betances Friday night, and it wasn't a positive one.

Betances will get a cortisone shot in his shoulder on Saturday and will be shut down for three weeks, meaning he won't be able to return to the Yankees' active roster for six-to-seven weeks. 

The shot will be where there's inflammation around a pre-existing bone spur. Betances returned to New York after struggling during a simulated game on Thursday. Cashman said their team physician is optimistic that the injection will resolve the issue.

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

The Yankees lost to the White Sox, 9-6, in a rain-shortened affair at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks have lost four straight. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Friday's game…

1 ) What's happening (get it?) to J.A. Happ is clearly not what the Yankees were expecting when they signed the 36-year-old to a two-year deal (with a vesting option). Happ was handed a 4-1 lead, yet he allowed base runners in each inning and yet another home run. Happ's line - 4 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 2 BB and 5 K was horrendous as is his 6.19 ERA for the season. Happ is simply leaving too many pitchers over the heart of the plate and hitters are not missing them.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Miguel Andujar swung a bat on Friday for the first time since doctors diagnosed him with a torn labrum earlier this month, and declared himself a fully healthy hitter. The problem with his injured shoulder is that it prevents him from making the throw from third to first base.

Here's a suggestion for the terribly depleted Yankees: Throw a band-aid on this makeshift lineup, and use Andujar as a DH or first baseman in the short term in order to get his bat back.

The injury-riddled Yankees return home to begin a nine-game home stand Friday night when they host the White Sox at 7:05 p.m.

Yankees Notes

Gary Sanchez officially went on the injured list with a left calf strain after Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Jay Bell revealed Thursday night that catcher Kyle Higashioka was going to New York. Austin Romine starts behind the plate. ... J.A. Happ tries to stop the bleeding for the Yanks, who were swept in Houston. ... DJ LeMahieu shifts back to second base with Gio Urshela at third and Tyler Wade on the bench.

The Yankees just can't seem to catch a break, as RHP Dellin Betances received another MRI in New York on Friday, manager Aaron Boone said before Friday's game against the White Sox. 

Betances is one of 12 players on the Yankees' IL, with Gary Sanchez the latest member on the list with a calf strain. The hard-throwing reliever didn't start the season with the team, as an earlier MRI revealed a shoulder impingement and inflammation. But, after the 31-year-old didn't feel great during his sim game according to Boone, the team wants to see what the issue is now. 

After his sim game, Betances was expected to throw in rehab games, the last step before returning to the Yankees' bullpen. Now the Yankees will hold their breath hoping they won't be losing the four-time All-Star for an extended period of time. 

With news that Gary Sanchez was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday, the Yankees now have a major-league leading 12 players on the IL. 

The list consists of seven position players and five pitchers, although CC Sabathia will return to the team on Saturday, but it is still half the roster that is sidelined. 

Just how significant are the players missing time with injury?

Another one bites the dust. 

Gary Sanchez was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a left calf strain, making him the 12th Yankees player to go on the IL since the start of the season. 

The hot-hitting catcher was not in the lineup on Wednesday to rest the calf but did make a pinch-hit appearance where he struck out. 

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez rank 1-2 for the MLB lead with total barrels hit.

But how important of a metric is that?

The Staten Island Yankees' recent partnership with a locally-owned and operated Chick-fil-A has received backlash from the borough's LGBTQ community. 

The Pride Center of Staten Island ended all communication with the team and publicly called for a boycott of the Yankees' minor-league affiliate after partnering with the Atlanta-based chicken franchise that has infamously supported anti-LGBTQ groups. 

Staten Island Yankees President and Operating Partner Will Smith issued a statement on Friday reiterating the team's support of the LGBTQ community as well as detailing their attempt to speak with the Pride Center of Staten Island. 

This might isn't a good sign regarding the status of Gary Sanchez.

The Yankees are calling up catcher Kyle Higashioka from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Scranton manager Jay Bell said Thursday night, according to the Times-Tribune's Conor Foley.

Sanchez was the designated hitter on Tuesday and did not start on Wednesday because of tightness in both legs. Sanchez pinch-hit in the eighth inning Wednesday and struck out. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

If any Yankee fans were looking for Aaron Boone to call out his team or turn over a food table after the Houston Astros completed their sweep on Wednesday, they were once again disappointed by the even-tempered manager.

And as unsatisfying as it might be for a bloodthirsty public, Boone was exactly right, both in style and substance, when he said the following:

When it comes to barrel per batted ball percentage -- which measures exit velocity and launch angle -- the Yankees lead the majors, while the Mets are second.

The full leaderboard is below:

The Yankees are giving catcher Gary Sanchez as much rest as he needs so he avoids a significant trip to the injured list like last season.

Sanchez, who was a designated hitter on Tuesday and pinch hit Wednesday, has been dealing with tightness in his legs for the past few days. This injury is not related to him taking a foul tip in the groin in Monday's game, however manager Aaron Boone said he would rather play it safe, especially with the Yankees off Thursday.

"With the off day [Thursday] and having a lot of guys down it is probably best to try and grab a couple of days here while we can," Boone said, according to the New York Post's George A. King III. "Just trying to be proactive. I want to make sure we are being smart about this and do all we can to keep him healthy. Making sure this doesn't become an issue."

The Yankees (5-7, tied for second place in AL East, 4.5 games behind the Rays) are off on Thursday before opening a three-game series against the White Sox on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

Here's what went down on Wednesday, in case you missed it...

During the Yankees' loss to the Astros, James Paxton made John Smoltz' recent prediction look bad >> Read more from John Harper...

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

While predicting greatness for James Paxton in the Bronx, John Smoltz offered high praise that Yankee fans actually might find insulting on Wednesday.

Paxton failed to get out of the fifth inning against the Astros on Wednesday night in Houston, in what was his first big start for his new team. And Smoltz' comments came hours before the lefty gave up five runs in 4.1 innings, as the Astros completed a three-game sweep of the Yankees.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives: The Yankees lose to the Astros, 8-6, and are swept out of Minute Maid Ballpark. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Wednesday's game…

1 ) The Yankees need James Paxton to be a stopper. He couldn't quell the bleeding tonight. Paxton's ERA on the season rose to 6.00 after allowing five runs on eight hits (including two home runs to Jose Altuve) and three walks. He labored through 95 pitches in just four innings of work. Simply put, Paxton has to better. He was brought in to sit atop the rotation and carry the club to the postseason. So far, Paxton has failed to live up to expectations.

The Yankees try to avoid getting swept as they take on the Astros in Houston at 7:40 p.m.

Yankees Notes

Gary Sanchez, who's off to a hot start with six home runs, is out of the lineup with tightness in his legs. He should be available to pinch-hit if needed. Austin Romine will start behind the plate. ... Greg Bird returns to the lineup at first base while Luke Voit moves back to DH. ... James Paxton makes his third start with the Yankees.

The Yankees remain the most valuable franchise in MLB, according to Forbes' latest valuations.

At $4.6 billion, the Yankees are worth $1.3 billion more than the second-most valuable team, the Dodgers. The valuation is up 15 percent from last year when the Yanks were worth $4 billion.

The Red Sox ($3.2 billion,) Cubs ($3.1 billion) and Giants ($3 billion) round out the top five, with the Mets next at $2.3 billion.

The Yankees were supposed to ride the strength of their bullpen to many victories this season, but instead it is coughing up leads on a regular basis.

With right-handed reliever Dellin Betances on the injured list, the Yankees pen has been somewhat porous, creating some short term issues and -- worse -- setting the stage for potentially long term affects.

Obvious shortcomings

In need of a fresh arm after Tuesday's loss to the Astros, the Yankees optioned RHP Jonathan Loaisiga to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and called up RHP Joe Harvey to replace him.

Harvey, 27, has tossed 2.1 scoreless innings this season for Triple-A.

He posted a 1.67 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 68 strikeouts in 59.1 innings (43 games) last season split between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Brian Cashman has been talking up Domingo German, Jonathan Loaisiga, and Luis Cessa collectively as the under-the-radar cure for everything that ails the Yankees pitching plans. Well, now we'll find out whether he really believes that.

Or is the Yankee GM already plotting a way to trade for Madison Bumgarner?

Clint Frazier had a rough day in the field for the Yankees in a 6-3 loss Tuesday night. 

On two separate occasions -- once in the second inning and again in the seventh inning -- the left fielder dove for two balls hit at him but could not come up either one. 

Both were instances in which it was the first baserunner of the inning and both eventually came around to sco