Not wanting to get caught short in the bullpen after using five relievers Sunday in a 7-4 loss to the Orioles in 11 innings, the Yankees called up Luis Cessa from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday. Right-hander Bryan Mitchell ,, who threw 36 pitches and played first base Sunday, was sent down to make room on the roster. Cessa worked 3 ¹/₃ innings against Toronto and allowed two runs and four hits.
“We are calling up one longer guy for another longer guy,’’ Girardi said before the game. “The one thing you hate to be in if a situation happens early to one of our pitchers you don’t have enough pitching to cover it. We felt with the way our bullpen has been taxed the last few days, I am not sure if Adam [Warren] is available [Monday]. We needed someone who can provide distance if we needed it.’’
Cessa was one of the five spring training candidates for two spots in the Yankees’ rotation and didn’t come close to challenging Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery, who copped the spots. In five games (two starts), Cessa posted a 6.52 ERA and allowed 13 hits in 9 ²/₃ innings in spring training. He also walked four.
“His last [minor league] start was a pretty good start,’’ Girardi said of Cessa, who allowed one earned run in 6 ²/₃ innings against Louisville on April 26. “He has had some issues when his fastball runs out across the plate and that is the one thing we are trying to clear up.’’
Cessa appeared in 17 games (nine starts) for the Yankees last year when he was 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA. This season he was 1-2 with a tidy 1.54 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Mitchell was the second Yankee ever and the first since 1908 to pitch, play a position and return to the mound according to Elias. Jack Chesbro was the first.
Mitchell pitched very well in the first seven outings (all out of the pen) this season. However, the last two weren’t good when he gave up seven earned runs in 2 ²/₃ innings.
Unless the Yankees have an injury situation Mitchell has to remain in the minor leagues for 10 days before he is able to be recalled.
Gary Sanchez is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday night for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and could come off the DL in time for Friday’s game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Sanchez hasn’t played since April 8 because of a right biceps injury.
Having started 22 of the first 23 games Chase Headley wasn’t in the lineup Monday. The previous game the switch-hitting third baseman didn’t start was April 18 against the White Sox at home when he was used as a pinch hitter and delivered a single.
“I felt like he could use a day,’’ Girardi said of Headley, who is hitting .301 with three homers and eight RBIs. “He has been going hard and playing extremely well and I thought he could use a day today.’’
Ronald Torreyes made his second start at third. Torreyes started 17 games at short while Didi Gregorius was on the disabled list. Torreyes went 1-for-4 and has hit in seven straight starts.
Speaking of Gregorius, Girardi said the club couldn’t ask for more than the left-handed hitting shortstop had given in three games since coming off the DL on Friday night.
“As good as it gets. You really can’t ask him to do much more,’’ Girardi said of Gregorius, who was 7-for-15 (.467) with four RBIs entering Monday night’s action when he went 0-for-4. “He has swung the bat well against right-handers and left-handers and played very well at short. He is kind of picking up where he left off last year.’’
