Six Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 set to return

Help is on the way for the patchwork Yankees.

As their replacements kept the fort going and gave the team a bullet in the arm coming out of the all-star break, most of the six Yankees who tested positive for COVID-19 are set to come back in one. critical sequence of matches.

While Jonathan Loaisiga is expected to be the first to return, potentially as early as Friday, Gio Urshela was bound for Boston on Thursday or Friday and could also return before the series ends against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, according to manager Aaron. Boone.

Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka could also meet the team in Boston and travel with the Yankees on Sunday night for another key series, which kicks off against the Rays on Tuesday.

“They’re all fine,” Boone said Thursday before the series started with the Red Sox.

“[Urshela] could possibly be in play for us by the end of the weekend. Higgy and Judgey could be here by the end of the weekend and come with us to Tampa and see where we are when we get there with them.

Players returning from COVID-19 must undergo cardiovascular training before being allowed to be activated, which Nestor Cortes Jr. was traveling to Tampa on Thursday to do. Boone said the pitcher threw a few bullpen sessions and “could potentially be on the line this weekend,” depending on the Yankees pitching situation.

“Could also just jump in there and meet us in Tampa,” Boone said. “We’ll just see how he’s doing and what our needs are here over the next 24-48 hours.”

Without Judge and Urshela in the starting lineup since the All-Star break, the Yankees have used their newfound speed to score in different ways during the four-game winning streak they started Thursday at Fenway Park. That speed was led by outfielder Greg Allen, who took Judge’s spot on the list when the slugger went on COVID-19 IL.

The Yankees also missed Loaisiga as a weapon in the back of their paddock, while Cortes gave them a solid pair of starts before testing positive for COVID-19. In his absence, they looked to Asher Wojciechowski as the fifth starter on Wednesday night in a 6-5 win over the Phillies before nominating him for an assignment on Thursday. The Yankees won’t need a fifth starter until July 31 at the earliest.

Boone did not provide an update on reliever Wandy Peralta, who had pitched with Loaisiga in Austin, TX, while the two were in quarantine.

While Loaisiga, Cortes and Peralta had all been vaccinated (making their positive tests decisive cases), at least one of Judge, Urshela and Higashioka was not vaccinated, according to the Yankees.