The Yankees suffered a significant blow to their bullpen after Jonathan Loaisiga was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain just hours before New York's home opener Friday.
Loaisiga, 29, is no stranger to arm troubles. He missed time over the past two seasons with shoulder and elbow issues, including inflammation and bone spurs in his elbow last season that limited him to just 17 appearances.
In a season that has already seen the Yankees bullpen lose reliever Michael King, in a trade for Juan Soto, and Gerrit Cole had started the season on the 60 day IL, Johnny Lasagna was supposed to be one of the staples of an alright elite Yankee Bullpen.
He had been expected to be one of the main bridges to closer Clay Holmes, often providing more than one inning at a clip, and New York will have to rely more on relievers like Ian Hamilton in the late innings in his absence.
Speaking on Friday morning, manager Aaron Boone said the flexor strain was "serious" and that Loaisiga underwent an MRI.
Along with Loaisiga, bullpen arms Tommy Kahnle and Scott Effross are also on the IL.
Kahnle is dealing with shoulder inflammation, while Effross -- who was set to return this season from Tommy John surgery -- had back surgery and is expected to be out until the second half of the season.
Loaisiga, who will now be sidelined until at least June, has been one of the Yankees’ top bullpen arms in recent years but he has not been able to stay healthy. The Yankees had planned to use Loaisiga in a multi-inning role with multiple days built in between each outing. But he threw two innings on Opening Day last Thursday, then one inning last Sunday and one inning Wednesday. He had not allowed a run in four innings but gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out three.
Hopefully he can come back after some rest and provide some stability to the Yankees bullpen for the second half of the season when things really matter. Championships aren't won in April/May.
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