The Yankees got some bad news on the injury front on Monday: Anthony Rizzo has been experiencing headaches as a side effect of the epidural he received for his back issue last week, and will not be available until “hopefully Wednesday.”
Manager Aaron Boone made the revelation prior to the team’s Monday matinee against the Twins, saying that Rizzo’s back is better, but he needs to get through tomorrow symptom free from the headaches to be able to begin ramping up again, with his return timeline TBD.
“Rizz is still at home, kind of doctor’s orders to rest, just because he was getting some headaches from the epidural. Back is doing well, but they want him to rest and make sure he’s asymptomatic from any of the headaches,” Boone said. “None yesterday, none so far today, and if that’s the case tomorrow, he can come in here Wednesday and start ramping up.”
Boone noted this isn’t common but is a known side effect and is “not something you want to mess with,” so they’re hoping Rizzo will come through Tuesday okay – and right now, it’s still not an IL situation despite Monday being the fifth day Rizzo has missed, and even a Thursday return after a Wednesday ramp up meaning he would have missed eight days (just two short of what an IL stint would require).
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“I don’t think so, just where we are with the expanded rosters. We can always do that if we have to at some point, but hoping we get through today and tomorrow symptom-free,” Boone said.
The Yankees also were without DJ LeMahieu in Monday’s starting lineup, as he continues to deal with a toe issue that has caused him to hit just .128 with no extra-base hits in his last 20 games.
“The last couple weeks have been a struggle obviously, so we just have to continue to monitor it and have frank conversations and see where days of rest can help him,” Boone said. “We have to see what we can do to continue to treat him so he can get his swing off. We’ll just kind of see.”
With both Rizzo and LeMahieu out, Marwin Gonzalez got the start at first base on Monday.
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