Regardless of it being the middle of June and not the end of August, there is only one way the Yankees can view the upcoming six-game homestand that starts Tuesday night against the AL East-leading Blue Jays and continues with the Orioles.
“You have to play well against our division, you can’t afford to have a losing streak against guys you are chasing,’’ Mark Teixeira said. “These are all going to be big games.’’
The Yankees arrive home on a two-game losing streak but with ace Masahiro Tanaka on the mound.
They haven’t faced an AL East team since May 2-4, when they hosted the Rays.
The Yankees are 11-9 against the East and took two of three from the Blue Jays when they opened the season in Toronto.
Joe Girardi didn’t hint at it, but it wouldn’t be a shock if the manager started to use the left-handed Kelly Johnson at third against right-handers now that Yangervis Solarte is in his second extended funk of the season.
The switch-hitting Solarte has four hits in his last 27 at-bats (.148) and Johnson, who started all three games in Oakland, went 3-for-8 with three walks.
With Vidal Nuno getting spanked Sunday by the A’s and being more fortunate than good in the previous start against the Mariners, the question of who would replace him in the rotation surfaced.
According to general manager Brian Cashman, the most likely candidate would be Adam Warren, who has morphed into an effective late-inning reliever in front of closer David Robertson.
Asked if there was a starter at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre who could help, Cashman said, “No.”
Warren worked last year as a starter and reliever but has been used exclusively in relief this year and has a 2.19 ERA in 30 games. The right-hander’s longest outing this season has been two innings (twice), so it would take time to build him up to at least go five.
With the draft complete, the trade market gets warmer at this time of the season. Cashman was asked Monday if he was looking for a bat or pitcher before the July 31 deadline.
“You’re in a time frame now, within the game, anything can happen with any team, trade-wise,’’ the GM said. “We have areas of need on both ends to be honest. We’ll just focus on trying to improve the club in small amounts or big amounts depending on what presents itself as realistic options.”
Cashman said a deal for a backup first baseman isn’t being ruled out, but he said the best options are on the 25-man roster.
Out since mid-April with a right hamstring injury, Francisco Cervelli will be activated from the DL for Tuesday night’s game against the Blue Jays, and it’s likely John Ryan Murphy will be sent to Triple-A.
While Girardi hinted last week carrying three catchers was a possibility, Cashman isn’t in favor of it. He did like what Murphy provided while Cervelli was on the DL with a hamstring injury.
“John Ryan Murphy’s been great. He’s done a tremendous job. Obviously, we planned on having him to have a full development year at Triple-A for us, but Cervelli’s injury opened up the opportunity for him to come on up and we benefited from him being up here, as did he,’’ Cashman said. “He did a great job for us. It’s great he took advantage of that opportunity.”
Murphy batted .286 (18-for-63) with a homer and eight RBIs in 24 games.
Cashman is optimistic CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda will rejoin the Yankees’ rotation at some point, but not any time soon.
“We are looking at a ways away for both of those guys still. We look forward to getting them back and we anticipate them getting back, but unfortunately it’s not on the horizon right now,’’ Cashman said.
Sabathia, who is on the DL with an inflamed right knee, is throwing on flat ground. Pineda (teres major muscle problem) has seven days of complete shutdown remaining on a 20-day plan.
Carlos Beltran supplying middle-of-the-order power would reduce the stress on the rest of the lineup, and the Yankees would like to see the switch-hitter build on Sunday’s 2-for-4 game, in which he homered.
“Hopefully the home run will get him going now. Him communicating with our staff, he’s not really having any issues as much as timing. It’s more mechanical and timing than injury related thus far,’’ Cashman said. “Hopefully it’s nothing more than him knocking the rust out and getting it going again.”
Beltran returned from the DL on June 5 and has one homer and three RBIs to go with a .171 (6-for-35) average. He was out with a bone spur in his right elbow that hasn’t allowed him to play right field since coming off the shelf.