MIAMI — Luis Severino has received another lifeline to remain in the Yankees’ rotation.
With Nestor Cortes going back on the injured list Friday because of a rotator cuff strain that likely will end his season, the struggling Severino is expected to make another start on Tuesday against the Braves.
The Yankees’ two potential options to replace Severino in the rotation, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, will instead be joining him in the rotation as injury replacements for Carlos Rodon and Cortes.
“Sevy’s in line to start Tuesday,” manager Aaron Boone said Friday before the Yankees beat the Marlins, 9-4, at loanDepot Park. “That’s the plan.”
Vasquez was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to pitch on Friday night against the Marlins behind opener Ian Hamilton, on what would have been Rodon’s day to start.
Vasquez got the win, going 3 ²/₃ innings and giving up two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts.
Brito also joined the Yankees on Friday from Triple-A and is set to either start or pitch behind an opener on Saturday in place of Cortes.
Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt will start on Sunday and Monday before the Yankees turn back to Severino on Tuesday.
The Yankees tried to jump-start Severino on Wednesday in Chicago by having him pitch behind an opener, but he still gave up four runs in two-plus innings as his ERA rose to 8.06 through 14 games this season.
DJ LeMahieu missed a second straight game Friday with right calf tightness.
The veteran third baseman, who was a late scratch from Wednesday’s lineup after feeling the injury, underwent tests on Thursday that seemed to show something, but it did not rise to the level of a strain, according to Boone.
LeMahieu worked out on Thursday at loanDepot Park, which went “pretty well,” Boone said, but he was still experiencing cramping on Thursday night.
“Right now, we’re treating him day to day and see how he responds,” said Boone, who did not know after Friday’s game whether LeMahieu would be able to play on Saturday.
In place of LeMahieu, Isiah Kiner-Falefa got another start at third base, where he continued to look sharp. That included a strong throw to nab Jake Burger on a dribbler in the eighth inning.
“Smooth,” Anthony Volpe said. “We joke — not joke — but he earned a Gold Glove there [in 2020]. I think he’s the best in the league over there.”
Frankie Montas, who began a throwing program on May 30 after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in February, is still throwing but is not expected to pitch this season.
“I don’t think so,” Boone said. “But I don’t want to speak out of return about exactly what might be coming up in the next few weeks.”
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