Yankees Notebook: DJ LeMahieu dealing with quad injury, Gleyber Torres feeling better
CLEVELAND — With DJ LeMahieu out of the lineup for the second time this series on Wednesday, some wondered if something was up with the Yankees’ infielder.
Turns out LeMahieu felt tightness in his quad while running the bases during the Yankees’ win over the Guardians on Tuesday night. The veteran finished the game, during which he had two hits, but the tightness remained Wednesday morning.
“It’s a day-to-day kind of situation, but something obviously we gotta pay attention to,” Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ series finale in Cleveland. “We’ll see where we’re at tomorrow with it.”
Boone added that no tests are currently planned for LeMahieu, who is hitting .263 this season. The manager also said that LeMahieu’s foot/toe is “100%” after such injuries derailed his 2022 campaign.
“I don’t think it’s related,” Boone said.
Meanwhile, Gleyber Torres arrived at Progressive Field feeling better after he exited Tuesday’s game with tightness in his hip flexor area. He felt he could have started Wednesday, but Boone kept him out of the lineup.
“I don’t feel anything right now,” Torres said. “A little bit tired, because I did a lot of work last night, but nothing I’m worried about [with] pain.”
Boone said that he expects Torres to play on Thursday when the Yankees begin a four-game series with the Twins at Yankee Stadium.
RED-HOT RAYS
The Rays are off to a scorching start, taking an 11-0 record into Wednesday. They haven’t played any good teams yet — they’ve faced Detroit, Washington, Oakland and Boston — but the Rays are beating up on the teams they’re supposed to.
Boone has taken notice. His Yankees started Wednesday tied for second place in the American League East alongside the Blue Jays.
“Wow, what a start,” Boone said. “I’m not surprised because I thought heading into this year that they’re really good.
“I mean, I don’t think you ever expect anyone to start 11-0, but we also know they’re an excellent team.”
The Yankees won’t play the Rays until early May when they travel to Tampa Bay.
GALLO INJURED
As previously mentioned, the Yankees are about to start a series against the Twins in the Bronx. But a familiar face won’t make the trip for Minnesota.
The Twins placed Joey Gallo on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 8, on Tuesday. Gallo is dealing with a right intercostal strain and going on a Triple-A rehab assignment, per The Athletic’s Dan Hayes.
The outfielder/first baseman is still fresh off an unsuccessful stint in pinstripes. Acquired before the trade deadline in 2021, Gallo slashed .159/.291/.368 with 25 homers and 46 RBI over 140 games with the Yankees. His all-or-nothing approach in New York never had the relative balance it did when he was a feared slugger in Texas, and the Yankees shipped him to the Dodgers last summer.
Gallo signed with the Twins over the offseason. He got off to a strong start before the injury, hitting .278/.350/.833 with three homers and seven RBI over seven games.
