Knee injury KOs Yankees catcher McCann
Brian McCann was out of the New York Yankees’ lineup Wednesday night, against Boston, because of a stiff left knee. The slugging catcher was injured blocking a pitch in the dirt from reliever Dellin Betances on Tuesday night — when McCann homered and drove in four runs. He shifted to first base late in the game.
McCann said an MRI showed inflammation around a Ligament on the inside of his left knee. He said he could come off the bench in an emergency, but hopes two days off and steady treatment will be enough to get him back on the field on a full-time basis. He was able to pinch-hit Wednesday night and flied out, with two men on base, to end the game as the Yankees lost to Boston 2-1.
John Ryan Murphy was behind the plate for the major-league debut of prized Yankees pitching prospect Luis Severino.
“I was definitely looking forward to catching him,” said McCann, hitting .255 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs.
Tigers’ Cabrera plans to return this season • It’s unclear how much longer Miguel Cabrera will remain out as he recovers from a calf injury, but he said he’s confident he will be back in the Tigers’ lineup before the end of the season.
He’s just not planning to rush it, as he was once prepared to do. Cabrera, who has been on the disabled since July 4, was initially expected to return in mid-August.
Asked how his recovery is going, Cabrera, who has taken batting practice with the team on the road and has returned to some baseball activities, said: “Much better. I don’t run long distances. I can do everything short, but long, first to third … not yet.”
The Tigers are 11½ games out of first place in the American League Central.
“Now they say take my time,” Cabrera said of the Tigers. “Gotta be smart. I’m going to do it.”
Sale not hurt • White Sox manager Robin Ventura stressed that struggling staff ace Chris Sale is fine physically. Over his past two starts, Sale has allowed 14 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings. When asked, Ventura explained why he didn’t see Sale getting skipped in the rotation.
“I know in the past we’ve done that, but that’s with his velocity. He’d start getting really, low 90s, almost 80s at some point, where most of his pitches were like that. That’s not what it is,” Ventura said. “I think for him, again you take your chances with a guy like that. I mean, if it’s something physical, we’d definitely do that. We’re always going to err on the side for him to do that, but he doesn’t feel that way and we don’t feel that way.”
Utley on comeback trail • Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, on the DL since June 23 because of an ankle ailment, had three hits and an RBI for Double-A Reading on Wednesday in his third minor-league rehab game. The Phils will determine Thursday whether he will continue the rehab assignment or bring him back to the majors.
Elsewhere • The Cubs put reliever Rafael Soriano on the 15-disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Soriano, who has 207 career saves, is 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in six games for the Cubs after signing as a free agent June 9.
• Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (torn left thumb ligament) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis next week and shortstop Jordy Mercer (sprained knee) is scheduled to join him Aug. 14.
• Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore neck, then grounded out in the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter.
• The Rays claimed outfielder Daniel Nava off waivers from the Red Sox. Nava was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on July 28 after hitting .152 in 29 games with this season.
From news services
