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Palladino: Pitching Injuries Hurting Yankees More Than Mets

By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns

Chase Whitley became the third New York pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery Tuesday, but he probably won't be the last.

Though Whitley joined two Mets, Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin on the doctor's hit list, the Yanks may soon even up that ledger. And when they do, whether it's Masahiro Tanaka's valuable, partially torn ligament finally giving way, or some other pitcher, that injury will come at twice the cost of the Mets' woes.

The Yanks simply don't have the Mets' kind of depth.

That's not big news. Few teams have the kinds of reinforcements the Mets have lolling around in the minors. Part of that went on display, of course, with Noah Syndergaard's commanding performance Sunday, a six-inning, three-hit, one-run stint that will push his injured predecessor, Dillon Gee, to the bullpen once he's fit.

And if something untoward befalls Syndergaard, they have good-looking lefty Steven Matz waiting for his turn.

With the Yanks, everything regarding reinforcements turns into a hold-your-breath situation. Whitley turned out quality, no doubt, as he sat in for Tanaka. But it pretty much stops there.

Chris Capuano finally made his 2015 debut Sunday and couldn't get out of the fourth inning. And that is not an anomaly for the 36-year-old left-hander. Capuano has shown nothing more than journeyman ability since winning 18 games for Milwaukee in 2005. Since then, he hasn't had a winning record or a sub-4.00 ERA, except for 2010 when he posted a 3.95 ERA in primarily a relief role. He's had injuries the last two years.

If the Yanks have to rely on him to fill a key spot in the rotation, well, don't bet on a positive outcome.

After Capuano, there's not a lot coming up, which is why the Yanks wait with baited breath for Tanaka. He has come through his bullpen sessions pain-free and is scheduled to make his first minor league rehab start Thursday.

Still, he's a ways away from rejoining the team. He must first work himself up to 90 pitches, which could take two or three starts, perhaps four. And all the while, of course, he needs to be monitored closely for any sign that his partially torn elbow ligament has come dangerously close to its breaking point.

And once Tanaka does get back, what will he look like? It won't do if he pitches like he did in his first two starts, where he allowed a cumulative seven runs and nine hits in nine innings. The Yanks' expectations for him have to remain higher than that.

His last two starts were more indicative of his talents, as he gave up just one run in 13 1/3 innings while going 1-0 with a no-decision.

That would put Joe Girardi in a wonderful state of mind. But again, that's for the future.

In the meantime, the Yanks must tread water and pray that the overall sick list doesn't get any longer than it already is. The AL East lead over Tampa Bay is erased after Tuesday's loss in Washington. Whitley's gone for the year. Ivan Nova won't be ready to come off the DL until mid-June, at least.

On offense, Mark Teixeira is banged-up again, this time after taking a pitch off his right big toe. Alex Rodriguez has done well at the plate with 10 homers and 22 RBI in 33 games, 30 as a DH. His batting average, torrid at the start of the season, has slipped to .248. Jacoby Ellsbury sprained his right knee on Tuesday night, sending him to the disabled list.

The offense as a whole has dropped dead, as the cumulative 17 runs in the current 1-6 stretch has put inordinate pressure on the rotation. Losing a kid like Whitley hurts. He was well on his way to becoming a reliable starter.

Lose another -- who knows how long Tanaka will last, if he even makes it out of rehab -- and the Yanks will have to hold their breath, hope for a ton of offense, and get by on mediocrity the rest of the season.

Capuano, at this point, does not even qualify as a "hold the fort" guy. If something happens to Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia or Nathan Eovaldi, it's pot luck as far as reinforcements go.

The cavalry won't be coming.

The Mets have all those horses.

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