CHICAGO – Carlos Rodon is back where he started the season: on the injured list.
The Yankees placed Rodon on the 15-day IL Monday with a left hamstring strain, a day after the injury forced him to leave his sixth start of the season early.
Rodon was hopeful to not land on the IL, but he was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam on Monday, which apparently showed there was enough of a strain to knock him out for at least 15 days.
The hamstring issue is the latest setback for Rodon, whose season was delayed by a forearm muscle strain and back discomfort.
After signing a six-year, $162 million contract in the offseason, he did not make his Yankees debut until July 7.
Exactly a month later, he is back on the shelf.
In his six starts between IL stints, Rodon posted a 7.33 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 18 walks in 27 innings.
Rodon’s latest injury further exposes the Yankees’ shallow starting pitching depth.
They currently have “TBA” listed for Wednesday’s starter, though Rodon’s injury may give the struggling Luis Severino another lifeline to remain in the rotation at least for now.
Randy Vasquez could then be recalled to fill Rodon’s spot in the rotation, with the Yankees needing another starter by Friday against the Marlins.
For now, the Yankees recalled reliever Nick Ramirez to take Rodon’s roster spot.
The Yankees did just get Nestor Cortes back from the IL, but only a few days after announcing that Domingo German would miss the rest of the season to get treatment for alcohol abuse.
In other roster moves Monday, the Yankees activated reliever Jonathan Loaisiga off the 60-day injured list and designated former top prospect Deivi Garcia for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.