KANSAS CITY — Vidal Nuno will make his first major league start for the Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader today in Cleveland.
Infielder Corban Joseph will be the Yankees’ 26th man since MLB rules allow an extra player for days when two games are played. Joseph was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 30 and sent back May 1 and didn’t appear in a game. He is exempt from the rule that requires optioned players to stay in the minors for 10 days because he will be returned to Triple A after today’s second game.
And right-hander Brett Marshall could get his first taste of the major leagues.
After yesterday’s 4-2 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium the Yankees announced Nuno would start the second game today.
Nuno, a 25-year-old lefty who is from tiny Baker University in Kansas and an alumni of the independent Frontier League, has worked one big league game. On April 29 he tossed three scoreless innings against the Astros in a 9-1 loss to Houston.
He was 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in four starts for Scranton.
Marshall will be on hand in Cleveland and could be needed in relief because Joe Girardi has used David Robertson and Mariano Rivera in four of the past five games and the last two.
“I don’t know if either one is an option,’’ Girardi said of his setup man and closer. “I will figure it out [today].’’
Preston Claiborne is a candidate to be sent out for Marshall, who was supposed to start for Scranton yesterday, but didn’t. The 23-year-old was 2-2 with a 4.60 ERA in six games at Triple-A.
* Not wanting to play two games today against the Indians without a spare infielder the Yankees put Eduardo Nunez on the 15-day disabled list and elevated newly acquired shortstop Alberto Gonzalez.
Nunez hasn’t played since leaving a May 5 game with left rib cage tightness. He is back-dated to May 6, which means he is eligible to come off the DL May 22.
“Instead of trying to test it every day to see where he is at we are going to give it three, four or five days and get him swinging early next week if he feels like he is ready,’’ Girardi said. “And then maybe get him out on some rehab games. It just wasn’t where we wanted it and we couldn’t and we felt we couldn’t go any longer.’’
Gonzalez, a 30-year-old shortstop who can play second according to Girardi, is a Yankee for the second time. He was with the club in 2007 and 2008 and appeared in 40 games. The career .241 hitter played in 11 games for the Cubs this season.
* Ivan Nova’s brittle body will keep him from starting one of today’s two games against the Indians in Cleveland.
Girardi planned to bring the righty off the DL today to face the Tribe, but Nova played catch yesterday and “felt something in his left side.’’
Nova has been on the DL since April 27 with an inflamed right triceps. He missed three weeks last season with an inflamed right rotator cuff.
* Joba Chamberlain threw a 30-pitch bullpen session yesterday and the plan is for him to pitch an inning Tuesday night for Scranton in Toledo.
“I’ll start the game and see how I feel and go from there,’’ said Chamberlain, who is eligible to come off the DL tomorrow and hasn’t pitched since April 27 due to a strained right oblique. “I could stay for another [rehab game] or come back.’’
* Girardi said Robinson Cano won’t play second base in both of today’s games and he might use the Yankees’ best hitter as the DH in one. The manager’s plan also doesn’t include Vernon Wells playing left twice.
With Gonzalez on the roster and Jayson Nix working out at first base, Girardi also could give Lyle Overbay a game off.
Wells went 4-for-8 with two homers and three RBIs in the past two games.
* Rivera received a donation from the Royals for the New Rochelle church he is helping to rebuild. Gift was presented to Rivera at home plate before yesterday’s game and Rivera received a strong ovation from the Kauffman Stadium crowd.
“I felt like I was home,’’ Rivera said.
* Curtis Granderson is moving toward coming off the DL. Yesterday, he went 3-for-5 for Scranton and in three games he is 7-for-17 (.412).
“I know he feels good but he has to feel good at the plate,’’ Girardi said of Granderson, who could be activated this week.
* Pink was everywhere yesterday on Mother’s Day when major league players raised money and awareness for breast cancer.
“Pink looks odd on grown men but it raises awareness of breast cancer,’’ Wells said.
The bat Cano used to hit a long homer was pink as were the spikes Robertson wore in the eighth.