As anticipated, the Yankees have activated lefty James Paxton to start today’s game. The team had previously optioned righty Joe Harvey to open a roster spot.
Paxton had been sidelined since early May with a left knee injury. He’s still not quite at full health, as Zach Braziller of the New York Post was among those to report, but it seems the assessment is that he won’t be putting himself at risk of greater injury by returning to the mound. Paxton will be activated without making a rehab appearance.
The 30-year-old hurler turned in seven strong outings to open his Yankees career, working to a 3.11 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 13 walks in 37 2/3 frames. He was in dominating form, sitting comfortably in the mid-nineties with his fastball and generating swings and misses with 14.1% of his pitches.
Paxton’s return is an unquestionable boon to the Bronx Bombers, not that they have seemed in particular need of help. The club has more than weathered an injury barrage, moving into first-place position in the AL East.
Staying ahead of the Rays and Red Sox won’t come easy. Getting Paxton back into the rotation will help, though the rotation still figures to be an area to target for improvement over the summer. J.A. Happ has struggled to open the year, while Jonathan Loaisiga, CC Sabathia, and Luis Severino are all presently on the injured list.
What’s the over/under on the time till his next IL stint this season?
Hasnt pitched since early May,still not fully healed,and starting a game today with no rehab starts. Ill say he’ll be back on the IL by tonight at some point.
3rd inning
Completely agree.
Hey, he actually did pretty well.
Given how careful the Yankees have been with everyone who has visited the IL this year, I think you’re wrong. There is no absolute need for him to be back right this second–the Yankees lead the division–so I don’t know why he would make a start tonight if there were any indication that he isn’t 100%. Injury history? Absolutely, but I don’t think he’ll be hobbling off in the 3rd with the same knee bothering him. But, hey, what do I know.
Big maple is back yessss !!!!
Yankees will be playing some .500 teams. They are done playing the last place teams for a while. They play the White Sox in a couple weeks and then the Orioles in August. It’s going to be a tough haul for those guys. Eeeek.
They will be just fine
Are you actually saying the White Sox will be a problem for them? Hahaha
No, the White Sox will give the Yanks a break after playing a bunch of .500 teams. The Yanks might be a little gassed, but they should do fine against the White Sox.
When did the Yankees win a championship? It seems like forever ago.
2009, more recent than the White Sox.
You sound like someone who is very aware of and very afraid of the fact that they will be just fine. They’re 16 games over .500–exactly what they’re supposed to do with the schedule they started with. What’s with that take, anyway? Your angle is off–if they were 16 games under, then sure! Go for it! Ice your shoulder after this reach.
They play the Blue Jays twice as well as the White Sox. There schedule for June is not that bad. Definitely not a yikes.
I didn’t realize the Jays were that bad. I thought they were closer to .500. I still think they’ll give the Yanks a fight.
Toronto won’t give the Yankees anymore of a fight than they gave the Red Sox
So he doesn’t have to worry about further injuring himself but will the initial injury eventually heal while playing through it? I would be worried about his production if it’s an injury he has to play with through the rest of this year. Lingering injuries affect all players’ production.
thank g-d he is back. since the yanks need him to be their #2 SP in the playoffs (behind the true/real #1 that Cash finally attains)- they should wrap him in bubble wrap and not allow him to throw much till September! like they did today.
No joke- they should use his 130-140 innings wisely. as in, oh the O’s on back on the schedule, let Pax skip that one and have a high schooler pitch. it would also make that game fairer. Vegas would still peg the Yanks but….
Max Scherzer come on down.