Justin Wilson has to leave game with left shoulder tightness

TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees suddenly find themselves short of lefty relievers.

Justin Wilson left Monday night’s game against the Phillies in the seventh inning with "tightness" in his left shoulder, the club announced.

After throwing a pitch to the Phillies’ Odubel Herrera, Wilson appeared to shake his hand and immediately called for the training staff and manager Aaron Boone. Wilson, who quickly walked off the mound, will be "reevaluated" Tuesday, according to the team. Boone said he will have an MRI in the morning.

Wilson, signed to a two-year deal in the offseason, is the second significant bullpen piece to go down in the last two weeks. Lefthander Zack Britton was lost for very likely the first half of the season after undergoing surgery March 15 to remove a bone chip in his throwing elbow.

If the Yankees are determined to go the lefty route to replace Wilson — or Britton, for that matter — two options could be Tyler Lyons and Lucas Luetge, though neither is on the 40-man roster. The lone lefthanded reliever on the 40-man at the moment is closer Aroldis Chapman.

Wilson, who has a 3.27 ERA in nine big-league seasons and has struck out 474 in 429 1/3 innings, was not off to a good start, allowing seven runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Before the injury, opposing team scouts had taken notice of a slight dip in his velocity, particularly Monday night. Wilson, whose fastball typically sits in the 95-mph range, was at 90 to 92 Monday.

Taillon meeting expectations

Health questions aside, Boone said that coming into camp, he had "pretty high expectations" for Jameson Taillon.

The righthander has met them.

Making what likely was his second-to-last appearance of spring training Monday night, Taillon allowed his first run — snapping an 8 1/3-inning scoreless streak — against the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. Taillon reached 60 pitches in the third inning and was removed with the bases loaded and one run in, but that did nothing to obscure what has been a tremendous camp for a pitcher who hasn’t had a full season since 2018.

"We certainly know what he’s capable of when he’s been healthy," Boone said. "We knew we were getting a really good pitcher and felt like we were getting a healthy pitcher. So I think I came in with those kind of expectations, and to this point he's been terrific."

Taillon struck out five and allowed five hits.

Admiration society

Gary Sanchez tabbed DJ LeMahieu "The Machine" in April 2019 and has said of the second baseman: "He’s such a good ballplayer, it’s hard to describe."

The catcher is far from the only Yankee who can sound like a fanboy when discussing the notoriously quiet LeMahieu, who enjoys an almost reverential status in the clubhouse.

"I mean, he’s amazing," Gleyber Torres said Monday afternoon. "I’m just trying to learn everything I possibly can [from him]."

Little progress for Miggy

Miguel Andujar was shut down a little over a week ago with right hand and wrist issues, and Boone said not to expect him to appear in a game "anytime soon."

"It’s not imminent," Boone said of Andujar seeing game action. "He is doing better dealing with the soreness and nerve and inflammation in there that has seemingly gotten a little better each day. He’s been on the field doing defensive work, without throwing though. He’s not hitting yet."