Yankees' Clay Holmes (back spasms) expected to go on injured list

Clay Holmes is expected to land on the injured list on Wednesday as the Yankees reliever has been dealing with back spasms and soreness the last few days.

The Yankees reliever said he started to experience back issues following his last outing against the Red Sox Friday, in which he walked two batters and allowed an RBI single to J.D. Martinez in one-third of an inning. He said his back locked up on him a few days ago and he threw a few pitches off a mound Tuesday and his back tightened up again.

Holmes said outside his locker he didn’t know what the official plan was yet, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Tuesday’s game there “would be potentially a pitching move” made to the roster. Holmes is expected to be that move, although the Yankees didn’t comment officially on it Tuesday evening.

“Just felt like the smartest thing and best way to go about it is try to give it a break and we’ll see,” Holmes said. “It’s probably smarter not to try to push through something that maybe could be a lot worse.”

Holmes, who said he hasn’t had tests done on his back yet, has struggled in his last five appearances after a very strong start to the season. The 29-year-old righthander has allowed seven earned runs with three blown saves over four innings in his last five outings. His ERA ballooned from 1.20 through July 28 to 2.39 after those five appearances.

Holmes said he doesn’t expect an extended stay on the IL – if that’s his fate. He thinks just a few days of rest will help ease the back issue and eliminate the lingering soreness.

He did say it’s tough to be dealing with the injury now, with the Yankees in the midst of losing 11 of their last 13 games and needing help any way they can find it.

“It’s definitely frustrating to deal with this at this moment just for the fact of kind of where we’re at,” Holmes said. “But I think this is probably the smartest move and there will definitely be another guy who can step up.”

LeMahieu (toe) still out; IL looming

DJ LeMahieu missed his third straight game Tuesday night with inflammation in his right big toe. And Boone wasn’t able to share much clarity on when LeMahieu would be back.

Boone said LeMahieu went for a second opinion and thought the days off helped the Yankees second baseman with recovery from his toe issue. Boone said he's "hopeful" LeMahieu could be back in the Yankees' lineup Wednesday but also didn’t rule out a possible trip to the injured list.

“We’ll probably make that decision sometime tomorrow or the next day,” Boone said.

If LeMahieu can’t play Wednesday, Boone said LeMahieu could end up on the IL to provide additional rest along with adding to the Yankees’ bench.

“I really don’t have a lean either way with it other than I’m holding out some hope he can be out there tomorrow,” Boone said.

Stanton nearing rehab assignment

Boone said he expects Giancarlo Stanton to begin a rehab assignment in the “next couple of days.” Stanton has been out since July 24 with left Achilles tendinitis.