In news that seems to have come from nowhere, but in reality did not, Wednesday the New York Yankees placed reliever Joba Chamberlain on the disabled list with an elbow injury. Bryan Hoch:
Joba Chamberlain Injury: Yankees Reliever Hits DL With Flexor Strain
Joba Chamberlain has been placed on the disabled list with a strained flexor muscle, Joe Girardi said.
Chamberlain will be out 10-14 days and then may resume throwing, so this looks like it will knock him out for three to four weeks minimum.
Girardi said that Chamberlain likely has been pitching with the issue for a short while.
It's not necessarily evident in the numbers how long Chamberlain has been pitching through discomfort, as he hasn't allowed any runs in his last eight appearances. But now the Yankees are down another reliever. Already without Rafael Soriano, they may have to survive without Chamberlain for a month, if not longer.
Chamberlain owns a 2.83 ERA over 29 innings, with 24 strikeouts, so he'll definitely be missed. David Robertson's role will now only grow more important. Fortunately, Luis Ayala has pitched exceptionally well and will presumably move up in the pecking order, and new arm Jeff Marquez could also be of some service.
Meanwhile, Amauri Sanit will take Chamberlain's place on the roster. The diminutive righty reliever has 25 strikeouts in 19 triple-A innings, but minimal Major League experience. He'll presumably see low-leverage situations.
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