Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes was given an epidural yesterday after an MRI exam showed he has inflammation after aggravating an old back injury from 2004.
General manager Brian Cashman expects Hughes to be “fine” in a few days and could pitch either late this weekend or the final series of the regular season at Tampa Bay.
“We believe he’ll be fine and he’ll still pitch for us,” Cashman said last night between games of the Yankees-Rays day-night doubleheader at the Stadium. “It’s nowhere near as serious as it was [in 2004]. It’s just an aggravation.”
Cashman said timing created the need for the epidural. If it were midseason, Hughes would be told to simply rest until the injury cleared. But with the playoffs starting in 10 days, the Yankees decided to be proactive.
Hughes (5-5, 6.00 ERA) was scheduled to pitch the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader, but was scratched when he continued to have lingering back spasms. The Yankees wound up using eight different pitchers en route to a 4-2 victory over the Rays. The Yankees clinched the AL East in Game 2 with another 4-2 win.
Hughes, meanwhile, was sent for an MRI exam, which revealed the inflammation of a herniated disk injury from seven years ago.
Cashman said he doesn’t think “this is a big issue” and expects Hughes to be ready for the postseason. The Yankees haven’t decided whether he will be used as a starter or reliever during the playoffs.
“I think he’ll be able to start if that’s what we want,” Cashman said. “He’ll be down probably for two or three days. Then we’ll take it step by step and see how he responds.”
The Yankees won the division, but their goal is to secure home-field advantage for the playoffs, but Cashman said it’s important the team be healthy come October.
“We’ll take it day by day and try to keep the pedal to the metal,” he said. “But at the same time keep our eyes on the assets we have and make sure they’re ready to play at full capabilities when it counts in October.”