CHICAGO — Dellin Betances and Adam Warren certainly have lessened the sting of losing Shawn Kelley from the Yankees’ bullpen because of a lower back issue.
Nevertheless, the club believed an area of strength was about to become deeper with Kelley scheduled to throw in a minor league rehab game this coming weekend.
But after playing catch Monday at Yankee Stadium, the right-handed reliever was stiff.
“The [bullpen sessions] are on hold, the rehab is on hold,’’ manager Joe Girardi said before the Yankees’ 4-2 victory over the Cubs in 13 innings Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
Multiple tests have ruled out a disc problem for Kelley, who last pitched May 6 against the Angels at Anaheim and was placed on the disabled list May 13.
According to Girardi, Kelley was scheduled to play catch Monday and Tuesday, throw a bullpen Thursday and pitch in a rehab game Saturday.
Kelley, who started the season as David Robertson’s eighth-inning setup man and was the closer while Robertson was on the DL for 15 days with a groin problem, has pitched in 16 games and is 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA and four saves.
Before Kelley went on the DL, Betances and Warren were thriving as relievers and that hasn’t stopped since they started to be used in tougher spots.
Betances has allowed 14 hits and struck out 45 in 26 innings and has a 1.73 ERA in 18 appearances. In Wednesday’s 4-2 win in 13 innings the young right-hander worked 1²/₃ innings, struck out three and stranded an inherited runner.
Warren, who allowed a run Wednesday, has whiffed 25 and allowed 21 hits in 26 innings, and also sports a 1.73 ERA.
With Ivan Nova (elbow) done for the season, Michael Pineda (strained upper back muscle) a ways away from rejoining the rotation, nobody can accurately predict when CC Sabathia (right knee) will return and Carlos Beltran is hoping to avoid surgery on the right elbow, Girardi was asked if this season feels like a year ago when the Yankees were decimated by injuries.
“Last year we were probably dealing with more,’’ said Girardi, who lost Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Derek Jeter in spring training and didn’t have Alex Rodriguez until August.
Last season, Teixeira played in 15 games; Jeter 17, Rodriguez 44 and Granderson 61.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who entered the game in a 1-for-23 slide, went 2-for-6.
Since 2004 when he made 10 errors playing first base Mark Teixeira hasn’t committed more than four a year and has won five Gold Gloves.
Until, this season, that is. He has made five errors in 31 games.
“Most of the errors I have been in too aggressive of a mode,’’ said Teixeira, who made two throwing miscues and three fielding. “It’s little things that I need to get better at.’’
Considering Teixeira underwent right wrist surgery last year and was on the DL this season because of an adductor muscle injury, he was asked if the errors were connected to any physical and he said they weren’t.’’
Teixeira’s throwing error to second in the sixth inning Monday night helped build a Cubs run and looking back he never should have thrown the ball after cutting it off.
“I tried to make the play and I should have eaten the ball,’’ said Teixeira, who made one error all of 2012 when he won his fifth Gold Glove.
In 2003 when Teixeira, a rookie, also played third base and in the outfield he made 12 errors but only four at first.
“He makes errors like everyone else has, I am very comfortable with him around the bag and what he does,’’ Girardi said.
Jeff Samardzija pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed four hits but that wasn’t enough for the right-hander’s initial victory in 10 starts because the Cubs’ bullpen flushed a two-run lead in the ninth.
Samardzija, who likely will draw a lot of interest before the July 31 trade deadline is 0-4 with a 1.46 ERA.
Though the left-handed hitting Brian McCann caught Masahiro Tanaka Tuesday night he was in the lineup for Wednesday’s day game. Usually, Girardi starts John Ryan Murphy in day games following night games.
“We are going to see lefties in St. Louis and were off Friday and Monday,’’ said Girardi, whose club will face White Sox left-hander John Danks Friday.
McCann exited the game in the ninth inning for pinch-runner Brendan Ryan, who scored the tying run.
Girardi isn’t about to start guessing when or if he gets Carlos Beltran back from a bone spur in the right elbow.
“When he feels good he will play again,’’ Girardi said of the switch-hitting outfielder who will test the elbow with light swinging Monday. “We will keep our fingers crossed Monday and go from there.’’
Girardi said the club has been told if Beltran requires in-season surgery he could miss eight to 10 weeks.
According to Girardi, Chase Whitley will make the start Monday in St. Louis against the Cardinals.
Girardi said he was encouraged by Whitley’s second major league outing against the Cubs when he allowed one run and six hits in 4¹/₃ innings.
“He will be out there Monday,’’ Girardi said.
Whitley simply said, “I pitch when they tell me to pitch.’’