The New York Yankees brought a pitching reinforcement to their rotation with their last deal of the trade deadline on Friday: it’s Andrew Heaney, a southpaw that pitched with the Los Angeles Angels up until last week. He will make his debut today against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
Heaney was going to replace fellow lefty Nestor Cortes Jr. in the rotation, and the latter was going to be sent to the bullpen. However, an injury to the Yankees’ rotation changed their plans.
Right-hander Domingo German was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday, one day after pitching a competent game against the Miami Marlins, with right shoulder inflammation. It’s unclear, at this point, how long will German be out, but it certainly doesn’t look as something that will only require 10 days.
The Yankees’ righty will get an MRI
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said German has felt soreness since his near no-hitter against the Red Sox on July 25. The pitcher will get an MRI once he gets back to New York, per Boone.
As the Yankees await the results of the MRI, they will have Cortes Jr. returning to the rotation without even missing a turn.
Heaney will make his Yankees debut today, Gerrit Cole will take the hill on Tuesday, while Jameson Taillon will do it on Wednesday. The idea is for Cortes Jr. to pitch on Thusday, as the Yankees open an important series against the Seattle Mariners. Jordan Montgomery, who pitched a very good game on Sunday against the Marlins, would take the ball on Saturday and Heaney would close the week on Sunday.
German has a 4.45 ERA this season, but his 1.16 WHIP says that the first number should be a little lower. Cortes, in the meantime, has been very good for the Yankees, with a 1.93 ERA in 32.2 frames, and he has added 39 strikeouts to boot.