Yankees place LeMahieu on IL with toe injury, activate Cortes
The New York Yankees got one of their All-Stars back on Thursday, but not before losing another key piece of their offense to injury.
New York placed infielder DJ LeMahieu on the 10-day injured list with an inflamed right toe. In a corresponding roster move, the team reinstated left-hander Nestor Cortes from the 15-day IL ahead of his start Thursday night.
It's unclear how long LeMahieu, who last played on Sunday, will be sidelined.
"It is kind of a complicated, tricky injury," manager Aaron Boone said during an interview on ESPN 98.7's "The Michael Kay Show."
"... We do feel like an IL stint (is best). Hopefully, they can get their arms around this better. Hopefully, the time out is something that can serve him well."
LeMahieu has been in an extended slump, hitting just .187 with four extra-base hits and a .497 OPS since the beginning of August. He also hasn't homered since Aug. 7. Boone admitted that the two-time batting champion has been "compromised" by the injury over the last few weeks.
The 34-year-old has been a critical piece of the Yankees' offensive attack this year, slashing .262/.358/.381 over 120 games while providing versatility at three infield positions.
LeMahieu joins a laundry list of Yankee regulars who are on the IL as the team tries to hold onto its lead atop the AL East. The team currently has 15 players on the IL, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo and left fielder Andrew Benintendi, who were both sidelined over the past week.
Cortes, meanwhile, should provide a boost to the Yankees on the mound after missing two weeks with a groin injury. The 27-year-old was enjoying a breakout campaign, sporting a 2.68 ERA, 3.40 FIP, and 0.96 WHIP to go along with 133 strikeouts over his 23 starts.
Cortes will be on a pitch count during Thursday's start, Boone said, per SNY.
The Yankees also recalled infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. Andujar had been optioned less than 24 hours earlier after serving as the 29th man during Wednesday's doubleheader.
The Yankees, who held a 15 1/2-game lead in their division on July 8, enter play Thursday a mere five games up on the second-place Tampa Bay Rays.