OAKLAND – Corey Kluber was returning Thursday afternoon with a big diamond in the league, the normally stoic right-hander making a big smile after visually contacting teammate Elvis Andrus for a brief time alongside the Rangers.
Next week, the winner of the Cy Young double award, will once again face the batters of the Major League. Kluber is activated on the injured list and will appear as the Yankees ’likely starter for Monday’s opening game against the Angels, manager Aaron Boone said.
“He feels great and I think he’s ready for the next step,” Boone said. “He’s ready to take on Major League competition and move on to the next level.”
On May 19, Kluber threw an unopposed goal at Texas, then lasted three innings in his next outing against the Blue Jays before stiffly coming out on the throwing shoulder. Kluber was diagnosed with adequate subscapular tension and spent months without throwing, prompting speculation that the 35-year-old season was in jeopardy.
Still, Kluber has been able to return to the mound with a couple of successful outings this month for the Double-A Somerset, the most recent of which arrived on Tuesday. Against Akron, Kluber made 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs in five hits, walked one and eliminated four in a 60-throw effort.
“He’s been bouncing off his exits since he’s been building here,” Boone said. “It’s not completely built as its initial load, but we think it’s been built enough to wait to come out and give us a few very strong inings.”
Boone said left-back Andrew Heaney will move to the bullring later this week and could kick off early Monday with Kluber, depending on how efficient Kluber handles the Angels. Boone said he would consider Heaney a sixth starter when the Yankees start a 20-game stretch with no day.
“This will give us a chance to see Andrew in a different role,” Boone said.
Use force
It wasn’t an easy call for Boone to create a lineup that left Luke Voit on the bench for Thursday’s opening of the series, though the manager said that decision was made with the intention of playing to Voit in the next three games in the Oakland series.
“The way the series is lined up and the throwing clashes, that was the most logical way to go,” Boone said. “I want there to be more boys; I was talking to [hitting coach] Marcus [Thames] and he said to me, “I want eleven guys here today.” But Luke will probably be there for the next three days. ”
Hot corner
Gio Urshela’s return from the injured roster has an impact on Rougned Odor’s playing time, who had started all but one game at third base during the Yankees ’11-win streak that entered Thursday. Now Odor wants to return to his role, supporting DJ LeMahieu at second base.
“Gio has been such a good player for us for the last two years,” Boone said. “Rougie will continue to be an important part of that, but it’s certainly good to have more hands on deck, hopefully, helping us win ball games.”
He said it
“Come on, we’re not robots. It feels much better to come to the park after winning 11 games than not playing at the best possible time. – Gerrit Cole
This date in the history of the Yankees
August 26, 1960: The Yankees hit five homers, including the departure of Yogi Berra in the eleventh inning, to achieve a 7-6 victory over the Indians.