Marcus Stroman received an injection in his knee on Saturday, but the Yankees are hopeful that is the extent of what he needs to get back on the mound.
Stroman, who landed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left knee inflammation, got a cortisone shot after an MRI revealed swelling but nothing further, according to manager Aaron Boone.
“Hoping it’s not long,” Boone said Sunday morning before the series finale against the Giants. “The MRI was good, but he had some swelling in there somewhere. Trying to eliminate that, hopefully get him ramped up pretty quick and hopefully it’s something that really helps him moving forward.”
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Boone was still unsure whether Stroman was pitching through the injury entering Friday’s start or if he suffered it in the rainy and cold conditions – when he recorded just two outs while giving up five runs on three walks and four hits.
But when watching video back from that start, Boone said he could notice Stroman not finishing his delivery properly on his front (left) leg.
“I think that was due to the knee,” Boone said.
In three starts this season, Stroman has given up 12 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings while walking seven and giving up 12 hits.
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The veteran right-hander has an $18 million vesting option for next year that will trigger if he pitches 140 innings, though this IL stint will not help his case for that.
Clarke Schmidt will replace Stroman in the rotation, set to come off the injured list to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Royals at Yankee Stadium.
Schmidt had been slowed in camp by back and shoulder issues, but built up to 61 pitches in his last rehab start on Thursday.
