The Yankees’ rotation has taken a double-barreled hit from COVID-19.
A day after Gerrit Cole tested positive for the virus, Jordan Montgomery also tested positive, manager Aaron Boone revealed Tuesday before the Yankees hosted the Orioles in The Bronx.
Boone said no other players would be unavailable because of contact tracing, as of Tuesday afternoon, and “the hope” was that the spread would be contained to Cole and Montgomery, unlike the two other outbreaks the Yankees have experienced this season.
Both pitchers, who are vaccinated, are expected to be out at least 10 days — unless they test negative twice before then — plus however much time they might need to get their arms back in game condition.
“I think everyone can understand, that’s certainly a challenge and difficult,” Boone said. “Certainly feel for Gerrit and Monty in this situation, guys that are obviously in the midst of great seasons for us and integral parts of this team. So feel for them having to go sit out when, generally speaking, they’re feeling pretty well.
“It’s frustrating, but it’s also what we, what many people in the world have had to deal with in every walk of life. You just handle it and deal with it the best you can and try to get through it. We’ve been through some of these kind of challenges, even recently, and have gotten through them. That’s what we expect to do again.”
Cole was experiencing symptoms of a cold on Monday, which is what led to him getting tested, Boone said. The Yankees are not tested regularly because they have at least 85 percent of their Tier 1 personnel vaccinated. But Cole and Montgomery’s close contacts have been tested since their diagnoses.
The Yankees also had six players test positive for COVID-19 coming out of the All-Star break — including Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela and Kyle Higashioka — and Gleyber Torres and seven members of the coaching and support staff tested positive in May. They have since said Torres’ case was a false positive.
Cole, who was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game against the Orioles, was replaced by 23-year-old Luis Gil, who was called up to make his MLB debut.
Boone said he did not know who would take Montgomery’s start on Friday against the Mariners, but said a bullpen game is an option. Deivi Garcia, who has struggled this season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, would also be on normal rest to start Friday.
Now down three starters — including Domingo German, who hit the injured list Sunday with shoulder inflammation — the only healthy Yankees starters left are Jameson Taillon (who is scheduled to start Wednesday), Andrew Heaney (who was acquired on Friday and made his Yankees debut Monday), Nelson Cortes (who will start Thursday for German) and Gil.
“We kind of thought when we got the vaccines we wouldn’t have to deal with this quite as much and here we are,” said Taillon, who tested negative Monday night. “The breakthrough cases are real. At least these guys are feeling all right. But we still have to keep showing up and doing our work.”
The Yankees also have Corey Kluber (shoulder strain), Luis Severino (Tommy John surgery, groin strain), Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain) and Michael King (finger contusion) on the 60-day IL. Severino began another rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, but Boone said he was not an option to make his next start with the Yankees — even an abbreviated one — needing “at least” one more after Tuesday before he returns.
During their most recent outbreak, the Yankees went 5-4 before getting the last of their starting position players back. After getting a brief boost from their trade deadline additions in Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo over the weekend, the Yankees will now be shorthanded again as they continue to chase a playoff spot — entering Tuesday three games out of the final AL wild card.
“It’s hard news to get,” Boone said, “but we gotta do the best we can moving forward.”