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Yankees starter Nova may need elbow surgery

 
Published April 21, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG — Yankees RHP Ivan Nova has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, an injury that often requires Tommy John surgery.

Nova left Saturday night's game against the Rays in the fifth inning. An MRI exam after the game revealed the injury, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

"It's hard," Nova said. "I really don't know what to say. I'm sad right now."

Nova will be further examined today in New York by Yankees team physician Chris Ahmad. He said he had no discomfort until his 82nd and final pitch Saturday when he felt a pop.

If Nova needs elbow ligament replacement surgery, he could be sidelined more than a year.

"Usually when you have that (tear), it eventually leads to that," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

RHPs David Phelps and Adam Warren and LHP Vidal Nuno, who started Sunday, are in the mix to replace Nova. RHP Alfredo Aceves is starting at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees also, as expected, reinstated 1B Mark Teixeira from the 15-day disabled list and put him in the starting lineup for Sunday's game.

Teixeira hurt an adductor muscle that runs alongside the hamstring trying to make a play on a foul grounder during an April 4 game against the Blue Jays.

New York recalled RHP Preston Claiborne from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and RHP Bryan Mitchell from Double-A Trenton. INF Scott Sizemore was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and RH reliever Matt Daley was designated for assignment.

KERSHAW NEARS RETURN: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw pitched a simulated game that was the next step in his recovery from a strained muscle in his upper back. "Everything felt good, so that's a good step," the two-time Cy Young Award winner said after a 30-minute workout that was preceded by a brief bullpen session. "Hitters were kind of the next progression, so it was good to get some hitters in there and get some reactions. You get that little extra adrenaline with hitters in there."

BREWERS: OF Logan Schafer went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, and 1B Lyle Overbay was reinstated from the paternity list.

CARDINALS: LHP Tyler Lyons will replace injured RHP Joe Kelly in the starting rotation and is scheduled to pitch tonight against the Mets, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

METS: Manager Terry Collins said he is promoting RH setup man Kyle Farnsworth, a former Ray, to closer in place of struggling RHP Jose Valverde, who has given up four home runs in his past three outings. … Veteran OF Bobby Abreu is expected to be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas today. Abreu, 40, is hitting .412 in 40 plate appearances for Las Vegas.

NATIONALS: LF Bryce Harper started a day after he was replaced in the sixth inning for lack of hustle.

TIGERS: Opening day SS Alex Gonzalez was released, and INF Danny Worth was called up from Triple-A Toledo. Worth is expected to share time at shortstop with Andrew Romine.

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TWINS: Former Rays OF Sam Fuld was claimed off waivers from the A's and is scheduled to join the team in time for Tuesday's game at Tampa Bay. OF Darin Mastroianni was designated for assignment.