Yankees reliever Zack Britton getting MRI on hamstring Monday, even if he feels he doesn't need one
New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton walks to the dugout after manager Aaron Boone, right, took him out of the game during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in an MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
BOSTON — Although Zack Britton doesn’t think an MRI or any other test is necessary, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said via text late Sunday afternoon that the reliever indeed will have an MRI of his left hamstring on Monday in New York.
Cashman had said Saturday that the Yankees would have more clarity on the injury after the lefthander’s MRI. Britton was forced from his outing Friday and landed on the injured list a day later.
Speaking Sunday after playing catch on flat ground at 120 feet before the Yankees’ 9-2 loss to the Red Sox, Britton said,
"I felt fine."
Of the exact diagnosis, he said he didn’t have one.
"I think it [could be] a little bit of a strain [but I think] it’s more of a bad cramp," he said. "It’s gotten better from yesterday and now obviously throwing and running, [it feels OK]."
Britton said the Yankees asked about his having an MRI and his response was, "I didn’t think I needed it considering how I felt yesterday."
Britton, activated June 13 after spending the first part of the season on the IL recovering from March 15 surgery to remove a bone chip in his elbow, has a 4.15 ERA in five appearances. He retired the first batter he faced Friday but hobbled off the mound one batter later.
"It grabbed on me pretty good on the mound," Britton said. "Didn’t really settle down until maybe a couple of hours later. So I’m definitely relieved to some extent that I don’t feel like I need an MRI or to go through anything crazy."
In Britton’s eyes, there’s little question he’ll be able to return from the IL when the minimum 10 days are up.
"You never want to put a hard yes or no on anything," he said, "but after today throwing, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be [ready]."
Aroldis: All-Star interest
Aroldis Chapman, 16-for-19 in saves and with a 2.54 ERA, has the kind of numbers that will get him All-Star Game consideration. The six-time All-Star said his plan is to go to Denver if there’s a seventh bid.
"Hopefully that happens," he said Sunday through his interpreter. "I’m healthy and ready to go, and if I’m selected, yeah, I’ll go."
Wilson, O’Day close
Justin Wilson, on the IL since May 29 with a right hamstring strain, and Darren O’Day, on the IL since May 1 with a right rotator cuff strain, appeared in rehab outings Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
"Hopefully after that, [they’ll] be back with us," Aaron Boone said. "But we’ll get through today and see if another [rehab outing is] needed or not."
O’Day struck out two in a perfect fourth against Lehigh Valley and Wilson walked one in a scoreless fifth.
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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