Yankees’ Gary Sanchez caught up in roster meltdown
Gary Sanchez’s first taste of the big leagues in 2016 didn’t last long.
The Yankees’ intention when they called up the catching prospect was to have him DH Friday and Saturday against the White Sox, who were throwing lefty starters.
But then, as GM Brian Cashman said, “all hell broke loose on the roster last night.”
With Luis Severino going to the DL with a right triceps strain and Nick Goody making himself unavailable for at Saturday’s game — and perhaps Sunday’s — by throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings Friday night, the Yankees needed pitching depth.
So they brought up RHPs Conor Mullee and Chad Green from Triple Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and demoted Sanchez.
Green, 2-3 with a 1.22 ERA in seven starts with Scranton, was slated to start Saturday in the minors and is a candidate to slot into Severino’s rotation spot, though Cashman said that wasn’t a definite.
“We’re on a per-day basis,” he said.
Mullee, 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 12 appearances with Scranton, is likely headed back to the minors.
There was some thought Goody would be Scranton-bound after his outing Friday but the 24-year-old, now with 1.13 ERA in five games, has impressed the Yankees, who don’t want to lose his arm.
“When you send a player down, he’s gone for 10 days (minimum), and Goody’s thrown the ball pretty well,” Joe Girardi said. “So we decided to stick with Goody.”
What lefty issues?
Didi Gregorius has struggled throughout his career against lefthanders — he had a /.247/.311/.315 slash line against them last season — until this year. The shortstop went 3-for-3 Saturday against White Sox standout Jose Quintana, improving to 11-for-31 (.355) against lefties this season.
“He has made big strides,” Girardi said.
Gregorius spent the offseason and then spring training working on getting better against southpaws. He said doing well against Quintana, who brought a 1.38 ERA into the game, didn’t make it that much more of an achievement.
“It’s a lefty, so as soon as you get a hit against a lefty, it’s satisfying,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who’s pitching.”
Gregorius helped the Yankees move to 5-9 against lefthanded starters this season.
Ellsbury returns
CF Jacoby Ellsbury, out since last Friday with a tight right hip, came in for defense in the eighth inning Saturday and Girardi said the plan is for him to start Sunday.
Nice outing
RHP Dellin Betances struck out all four batters he faced Saturday, the second time in his career he’s accomplished the feat. According to the club, he is the only pitcher in Yankees history with two such outings.
Extra bases
OF Aaron Hicks had an RBI double and scored a run and his now 11-for-32 (.344) in his last 10 game . . . Austin Romine quietly continues to have a solid season. The backup catcher started at DH went 1-for-3 with a double, giving him a hit in seven of his 10 starts this season. Romine is hitting .303 with a .324 OBP.