Yankees DJ LeMahieu to return to lineup after calf injury

MLB

With Greg Joyce

August 13, 2023 | 10:18 pm

MIAMI — Barring a late setback, DJ LeMahieu will return to the Yankees lineup Monday to start a series against the Braves.

LeMahieu sat out a fourth straight game Sunday with right calf tightness.

He said he felt well enough to play in the series finale against the Marlins, but the Yankees opted to give him one more day to be safe.

“In my mind, I was ready to go today,” LeMahieu said before the Yankees fell to the Marlins in crushing fashion, 8-7, at loanDepot Park. “So [Monday]unless something happens today.”

The veteran player has been sidelined since Wednesday when he started to feel his calf “seize” while taking swings in the cage.

But he’s been “calming down” since then, LeMahieu said, and was able to take pregame workouts each day this weekend.

Before the calf issue came up, LeMahieu was hitting .309 with an .824 OPS over his last 23 games after going through an extended slump.

“It’s just disappointing no matter what,” he said. “I want to be out there. I’m proud to be out there.”

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Marlins third baseman Jake Burger went 7-for-12 in the series, including a walk-off single Sunday against Tommy Kahnle.

He came to the plate with runners on the corners and one out on a tying game — with Brian De La Cruz taking second base on defensive indifference on the first pitch to Berger — but manager Aaron Boone said he didn’t consider intentionally walking Berger for to stand. a double play.

“Not to bring the ride into the game [Jorge] Soler is next,” Boone said.

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After pitching a two-inning bullpen session Saturday — his first since suffering a hamstring strain last week — Carlos Rodon will head to Tampa this week to throw a simulated game at the Yankees’ development complex .

If this session goes well, it could set up Rodon to be activated from the injured list once he’s eligible (Aug. 22 vs. Nationals).

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The Yankees will have their hands full starting Monday when they take on a Braves lineup that just finished eliminating the Mets.

“He’s a heavyweight,” Boone said. “They obviously have a terrible, terrible lineup. Several guys in the middle of great campaigns. Probably as good an offense as you’re going to come across. We know we’ll have our work cut out there.”

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Assistant hitting coach Brad Wilkerson was ejected in the top of the eighth inning after Anthony Volpe struck out looking at a boundary pitch that appeared to cut into the strike zone. … The three-game series drew a total of 100,001, which marked the highest attendance for a three-game Marlins series in loanDepot Park history.