The Yankees’ catching carousel keeps moving along, as only days after getting sent down to Triple-A, J.C. Escarra is once again back with the big-league club to replace Ali Sánchez, who was placed on the paternity list. This move comes a day after Sánchez had to leave early in a game against the Tigers, having been hit on the wrist by a four-seam fastball, something we don’t recommend.
Sánchez, who was starting against the left-hander Framber Valdez, was replaced midgame by Austin Wells, who will
once again share the catching duties with Escarra, leaving the Yankees currently without a right-handed catching option on the roster. While an X-ray was negative, according to New York Post reporter Greg Joyce, we still await news on a potential CT scan to fully determine the extent of the damage done by this HBP — particularly, whether Sánchez will indeed require an IL stint. In the short term, Sánchez’s wife was expecting anyway, so the roster logistics allow him to go on the paternity list as they welcome a new baby into the world. The Yankees can work out any IL details at a later time.
After right-hander Casey Mize toes the rubber tonight, the Yankees will face not one, not two, not three, but four consecutive left-handed starters, beginning with the greatest that MLB currently has to offer in Tarik Skubal. In fact, they’ll face Skubal twice in this short period with multiple series against the Tigers, and being obligated to start a lefty catcher at all times is not ideal. So it goes.
