Yankees Place Paxton On Injured List

James Paxton acknowledging the fans after a recent start. @Yankees.

On Saturday, the Yankees placed left-handed starting pitcher James Paxton on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation.

The move was somewhat expected after Paxton had to leave Friday night's game against Minnesota in the third inning with what was diagnosed with left knee soreness and that he would have an MRI on Saturday.


Yankees Manager Aaron Boone, after Friday's game, said he learned about Paxton's injury "kind of at the end of that inning. I felt like we saw him a couple times kind of flexing a little bit, didn't think much of it, then checked on him after that third inning, and just decided didn't want to risk anything too serious because it was bothering him a little bit tonight. It's been something that's been a little bit nagging throughout the year, not a big deal, but tonight was a little more sore consistently, so just decided we didn't want to risk anything."
This is quite a disappointment for Paxton, who is in his first year with the Yankees and entered Friday night with a record of  3-2 with a 3.38 ERA.

Paxton was establishing himself in the rotation, as he had three superb starts, beginning when he threw eight shutout innings against Boston on April 16. That night, he allowed just 2 hits and a walk and struck out 12 in an 8-0 Yankees win.

In his next start on April 21 against Kansas City, he threw six shutout innings, and struck out 12 once again, while allowing just three hits and no walks, but got the no decision in a 4-3, 10-inning Yankee win.

On April 26 in San Francisco, he earned the win, as he allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 8 in 5-2/3 innings.

The Yankees recalled right-handed pitcher Jake Barrett from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he will wear No. 36.

The Yankees also activated third baseman Miguel Andujar from the injured list (he was out since April 1 with a shoulder injury) and sent first baseman/designated hitter Mike Ford to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Ford was hitting .179 (5-for-28) with 1 home run, 2 RBI, an on-base percentage of .378 (he had 9 walks), and he struck out 10 times.