Ailing Kelley Suffers Setback, Return To Yankees' Bullpen Delayed
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees just can't catch a break.
With the news surrounding starting pitcher CC Sabathia and outfielder Carlos Beltran getting worse seemingly by the day, the Bombers are growing accustomed to disappointment.
The latest revelation on reliever Shawn Kelley isn't good, either.
A key bridge to closer David Robertson, Kelley, who has been on the disabled list with a bad back since May 7, was making progress in his recovery before he suffered a setback this week, waking up stiff on Tuesday a day after playing catch at Yankee Stadium. The 30-year-old right-hander was expected to throw off a mound later this week and perhaps go on a rehab assignment by the weekend.
Instead, the Yankees are stuck in wait-and-see mode.
"The catch is on hold, the side will be on hold for a little, and obviously the rehab game that we were planning is on hold," manager Joe Girardi told the Daily News on Wednesday. "Just have to wait and see. He's going to continue to rehab back home."
Girardi indicated that an MRI has shown that Kelley does not have any structural damage to his back. His issues are more muscular.
Kelley is 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA and 4 saves in 16 appearances this season.
Earlier this week the Yankees learned that they will be without Sabathia until at least early July as he recovers from a troublesome right knee injury. The big left-hander is the latest starting pitcher to miss significant time, joining Ivan Nova, who is out for the season due to Tommy Johnson surgery, and Michael Pineda, who is expected to return from a back injury in early June.
Beltran got a second opinion on his injured elbow on Tuesday and has decided to play through the pain as long as he can. He will reportedly attempt to swing a bat on Monday and could rejoin the Yankees in St. Louis on May 28. However, general manager Brian Cashman said if the pain becomes too much the veteran outfielder will have surgery to shave the bone spur in his elbow and could miss up to 12 weeks.
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