Reinforcements are on the way for the Yankees’ bullpen that entered Wednesday with the lowest ERA in the majors.
In the short term, that means Nick Burdi, who came through Tuesday’s rehab appearance feeling good, could rejoin the Yankees’ active roster by Friday against the Rays.
He has been out since April 19 with right hip inflammation.
In the not-too-distant future, that also could mean Tommy Kahnle, who began a rehab assignment Wednesday with Single-A Tampa and threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
The reliever, who has yet to make his season debut because of a shoulder issue that lingered into the offseason and delayed his throwing progression, will need at least five rehab appearances before he could return to the Yankees, potentially lining up by the end of this month.
“Excited to get him going,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 9-4 blowout win over the Astros on Wednesday night at the Stadium. “I know he’s been in a pretty good spot here for a few weeks.”
Kahnle’s rehab was slowed again in April when he did not bounce back well from throwing to hitters, but his recovery has gone well enough since then to advance to game action.
The veteran will make at least his first two rehab appearances with Tampa before moving up in levels.
Even without Kahnle, the Yankees’ bullpen has been in a good spot to start the season.
The bullpen, which allowed two runs in 2 ²/₃ innings in the Yankees’ win, entered Wednesday with a 2.22 ERA, which was the lowest in the majors.
“I’m very pleased with how everyone’s come together down there,” Boone said. “Do your job — they’ve done that really well. And it’s not necessarily with everyone in the perfect place, locked in, pitching at their best. But they’ve all really contributed in different ways in winning situations, so that’s been really nice. Hopefully, as more and more guys become part of the mix, hopefully that allows you to be a more perfect bullpen moving forward.”
Yankees catchers set up closer to the plate than most in order to maximize their framing — which the tandem of Jose Trevino and Austin Wells has done successfully through the early going this season.
But don’t expect that to change in light of Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras breaking his forearm Tuesday night when Mets slugger J.D. Martinez hit his outstretched arm with his swing.
“We’re really diligent at trying to maximize those benefits but keeping player safety in the forefront and mitigating those risks as best as possible,” Yankees director of catching Tanner Swanson said Wednesday.
Catcher’s interference is on the rise across the league with teams trying to gain an advantage in framing lower pitches by moving their catchers closer to the plate.
But Trevino and Wells had combined for just one entering Wednesday, with the Yankees working with them on bringing their mitts up from the ground instead of having it outstretched throughout the pitch.
“We understand the risk, we’re assuming the risk, but it’s calculated,” Swanson said.
DJ LeMahieu (non-displaced foot fracture) took early batting practice as he continues his ramp-up towards another rehab assignment.
