Francesa, who was scheduled to be off the air on Thursday, called in as a guest to his own show (naturally) and reacted to the Flores story, but also added a bit of news: Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova are hurting. “He’s not pitching tonight, and he might be badly hurt”.
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Pineda’s season ERA of 3.97 is high, but his 7.80 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the best in the American League.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that CC Sabathia was pushed up a day to start tonight. He’s struck out a total of 117 batters while walking just 15 in 118 innings pitched. The Yankees are up seven games in the division, but if the injuries to either pitcher are serious they might have to add a pitcher out of necessity.
According to CBSSports.com/WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman, Pineda has a Grade 1 forearm strain and could be out up to a month. As a matter of fact, Pineda is 2-4 though his last six starts, and one has to wonder if his surfacing elbow injury is the main reason for his struggles.
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With Price headed to Toronto, Cole Hamels heading to Texas and Johnny Cueto already in Kansas City, the Pineda injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Yankees. James Shields and Mike Leake might be potential targets for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
