TORONTO — The Yankees diverged from their normal pitching plans Monday, asking Jimmy Cordero to open against the Blue Jays before Jhony Brito took over.
Cordero, a righty, hasn’t started a game since 2013 when he was a member of the Blue Jays’ rookie ball affiliate. But the plan was for him to throw no more than an inning or two against his old team.
Brito was in line to start Monday’s series opener, but the rookie has struggled against righties, as they have a .292/.347/.631 slash line and five home runs against him this season. The Blue Jays have three dangerous right-handers at the top of their lineup — George Springer, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — and Cordero has held that side of the plate to a .171/.256/.257 slash line.
“Just want to take a little bit off Brito,” Aaron Boone said before the game. “And obviously, it’s a really good lineup over there, and three pretty impressive right-handers to start out.”
Brito has also pitched poorly in the first three innings of games, recording a 7.17 ERA with opponents hitting .294/.364/.565 with five dingers off him. The right-hander has a 5.81 ERA overall this year.
The Yankees haven’t used an opener since August 2021, when Lucas Luetge played the part.
Boone said that Cordero and Brito went through their pregame routines as they normally would. Cordero was expected to enter the game from the bullpen, rather than the Yankees’ dugout.
Brito, meanwhile, understood why the Yankees were using him in a bulk role, per Boone.
“As much explanation as he wants,” the manager said when asked if the Yankees told Brito why he wasn’t making a traditional start. “I gave him a little brief rundown and he was like, ready and fine, good. And then obviously Matt [Blake], the pitching guys will get with him a little bit just to talk routine and logistics and all that.”
SEVERINO ON SUNDAY?
Brito’s time on the major league roster could be ending soon, as Luis Severino’s rehab assignment is underway. Severino (lat) is scheduled to make a second rehab start at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. From there, Boone said he’s “in play” to be activated for a Sunday start in Cincinnati, though a third rehab outing is possible.
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
Carlos Rodon (back) played catch Monday for the third day in a row after receiving a cortisone-like shot last week. Boone said the lefty has another injection scheduled for mid-week in case Rodon needs it. That doesn’t necessarily mean he will; doctors just thought it was best to put an appointment on the books.
Tommy Kahnle (bicep tendinitis) will begin his rehab assignment on Thursday in Tampa. He’ll pitch again there on Sunday before meeting the Yankees in New York. From there, his rehab will move to Double-A Somerset or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Boone said the righty requires at least four rehab outings, and a fifth is planned in case it’s needed.