DJ LeMahieu heads to IL with sports hernia, complicating New York Yankees' playoff quest
NEW YORK – After a morning workout, the New York Yankees made a “difficult decision’’ to place DJ LeMahieu on the injured list before Sunday’s critical Game No. 162.
Manager Aaron Boone said the club arrived at that tough choice about three hours before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, with the Yankees’ magic number for clinching a wild-card berth still at one.
LeMahieu is dealing with a sports hernia that is expected to require surgery at some point after the season.
“He’s willing to do whatever, if we would have wanted him to go out there,’’ said Boone. “But in the end, he’s just too compromised to be able to play at a level close to what we would expect of DJ.
“And at the end of the day, I don’t think that’s fair to him,’’ said Boone, adding that “we’ll see how the next week unfolds’’ if LeMahieu might be available to play beyond the Division Series.
LeMahieu would not be eligible to play until the AL Championship Series, should the Yankees qualify.
Sunday, Boone chose to start Rougned Odor at third base with Gio Urshela at shortstop and second baseman Gleyber Torres replacing LeMahieu again in the leadoff spot.
LeMahieu has been dealing with the effects of a sports hernia for several weeks. He has not played since being pulled from Thursday’s game at Toronto after three at-bats.
To replace LeMahieu on the roster, the Yankees have recalled rookie right-hander Luis Gil to bolster a bullpen that will be relied upon heavily after Sunday’s starter Jameson Taillon, expected to go just a few innings in Game 162.
If the Yankees win, they’ll clinch a spot in the AL wild card game. That game would be at Boston on Tuesday if the Red Sox win their Sunday game at Washington.
LeMahieu warmed up in the weight room and ran on the field, conducted some fielding work and did some batting cage drills before the Yankees made the decision to put him on the 10-day IL.
Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com.