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Marcus Stroman got a knee injection on Saturday, but the Yankees are optimistic that it will be enough to help him return to pitching soon.
Stroman was placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his left knee. After an MRI showed some swelling but nothing more serious, manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Stroman received a cortisone shot.
Boone expressed his hopes for a speedy recovery, saying, “We are hopeful it won’t take long. The MRI results were positive, but there was some swelling. We aim to reduce that quickly so he can start training again soon. Hopefully, this treatment will benefit him in the long run.”
Boone was still unsure whether Stroman was pitching through the injury entering Friday’s start or if he suffered it in the rainy and cold conditions – when he recorded just two outs while giving up five runs on three walks and four hits.
But when watching video back from that start, Boone said he could notice Stroman not finishing his delivery properly on his front (left) leg.
“I think that was due to the knee,” Boone said.
In three starts this season, Stroman has given up 12 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings while walking seven and giving up 12 hits.
The veteran right-hander has an $18 million vesting option for next year that will trigger if he pitches 140 innings, though this IL stint will not help his case for that.
Clarke Schmidt will replace Stroman in the rotation, set to come off the injured list to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Royals at Yankee Stadium.
Schmidt had been slowed in camp by back and shoulder issues, but built up to 61 pitches in his last rehab start on Thursday.