Gary Sanchez’s stay in The Bronx was shorter than expected.
Thanks to the bullpen’s heavy workload and the injury that sent Luis Severino to the disabled list after Friday night’s loss to the White Sox, the 23-year-old catcher was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for another pitcher after just one game.
“We need pitching,” manager Joe Girardi said before Saturday’s game in The Bronx.
Sanchez got four at-bats Friday against one of the game’s best pitchers, Chris Sale, and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
“Your first start is against a Cy Young [candidate],” Girardi said. “It’s not easy. He understood. We have to get our pitching straightened out and make sure we’re covered.”
General manager Brian Cashman said Sanchez was scheduled to be the designated hitter again Saturday against another lefty, Jose Quintana, before “all hell broke loose on the roster [Friday] night.’’
“You can have game plans,” Cashman said. “Gary Sanchez was up for two days and he didn’t make the second day.”
Instead, Austin Romine was the DH on Saturday.
The Yankees hope to be able to use reliever Nick Goody by Sunday or Monday despite the fact he threw 3 ¹/₃ innings on Friday, which is why Goody remained on the roster instead of being sent down for 10 days.
Right-handed pitchers Chad Green and Conor Mullee were recalled from SWB and were available for Saturday’s game, but neither was called upon. To make room on the 40-man roster, Bryan Mitchell (foot) and Greg Bird (labrum) both were transferred to the 60-day DL.
Jacoby Ellsbury (tight right hip) returned as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and “probably” will be back in the starting lineup on Sunday, according to Girardi.
Despite the center fielder having not started since May 6, Cashman insisted he didn’t regret not putting him on the DL.
“He’ll be a starter [Sunday],” Cashman said. “That’s the hope and expectation.”
Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) jogged in the outfield prior to the game after handing out bats to fans on Alex Rodriguez replica bat day.
He had no complaints after his jogging session, saying he was “feeling better.”
Rodriguez was unwilling to predict whether he would be ready to play when his stint on the DL ends on Thursday. He only has been doing tee-and-toss, but was hoping to hit in the cage Saturday.
CC Sabathia’s next step will be a simulated game, and if he doesn’t have any setbacks with his groin injury, he should be ready to return to the rotation by the weekend.
Aaron Hicks hadn’t had an extra-base hit from the right side since he homered against Houston’s Dallas Keuchel on Sept. 6 until his second-inning double off Jose Quintana.
Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound Sunday for the first time since he coughed up a season-high six runs — and three homers — against the Royals on Tuesday.
The Yankees acquired right-handed pitcher J.R. Graham from the Twins in exchange for cash.
The 26-year-old was optioned to Double-A Trenton. He gave up a pair of runs in 1 ²/₃ innings in his lone appearance out of the Twins’ bullpen this season.