SEATTLE — Harrison Bader is back on the shelf.
The Yankees placed the center fielder on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday after an MRI revealed a right hamstring strain. Franchy Cordero was recalled in Bader’s place shortly before first pitch against the Mariners.
Bader exited Monday’s game after legging out an infield single in the third inning. He ran hard to first base but departed after some stretching and a brief conversation with Aaron Boone and trainer Mike Schuk.
Bader, who started the season on the IL due to an oblique injury suffered in spring training, has been a linchpin for the Yankees since making his season debut on May 2. In addition to playing elite defense, the impending free agent is hitting .267 with an .806 OPS, two triples, six home runs, 19 RBI and five stolen bases over 26 games.
Bader has played in just 40 regular-season games — in addition to nine playoff contests — since being acquired from the Cardinals last August in a deal that sent Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis. Bader was recovering from plantar fasciitis at the time of the trade.
While losing Bader hurts the Yankees in the middle of the diamond, the return of Jose Trevino helps in that regard. The Yankees activated the catcher Tuesday. Trevino hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury on May 17.
The Yankees demoted fellow backstop Ben Rortvedt to make room for Trevino.
Anthony Rizzo remained out of the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday, but the first baseman said he’s improving. He left Sunday’s win over the Padres with a stiff neck following a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. on an awkward pickoff play at first.
“I feel a lot better than yesterday. My neck was really stiff yesterday. As far as my head, it feels totally normal,” Rizzo said. “I’m just taking it day by day.”
When asked if he was checked for a concussion, Rizzo jokingly added, “I don’t remember.”
Rizzo hopes he can return to action Wednesday or, preferably, Friday following the Yankees’ off day on Thursday. He said he could contribute Tuesday if needed, but he felt it was best to play it safe at this point in the season.
When asked if he had a problem with how Tatis Jr. returned to the bag Sunday, Rizzo said he didn’t know and that he didn’t have a comment on it. He did, however, call the play “weird” and “startling.” He wasn’t expecting it to be a bang-bang play or for the Padres star to come in standing up.
But Rizzo also felt fortunate to only be dealing with a cranky neck after he went down in pain during the game.
“I got hit by a pretty strong individual,” Rizzo said. “I mean, it could have been a lot worse. So thankful that there was no concussion or anything like that.”
The Somerset Patriots, the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, hosted rehabbers Josh Donaldson (hamstring), Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and Tommy Kahnle (bicep tendinitis) on Tuesday.
Boone said the plan is still to have Kahnle join the team in Los Angels later this week, while Donaldson said he plans on doing the same, per The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty.
As for Stanton, Boone said “we’ll see” when asked how many rehab games the slugger will need. Stanton and Donaldson will get a full day’s worth of work at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, as the Patriots have a morning game.
Boone said that the Yankees will start Luis Severino, Gerrit Cole and Domingo German against the Dodgers, in that order. In eponymous fashion, German will be on the mound for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
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