The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 today in their home opener. Derek Jeter’s last opening day at Yankee Stadium was a success. Except the Yanks didn’t get through the entire day without some bad news. It was announced after the game that their closer David Robertson will be placed on the 15-Day DL.
Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement in his post-game interview. Robertson has a grade-one groin strain and will be shelved for at least 15-days, according to CBS Sports.
With New York nursing a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Girardi called on righty-reliever Shawn Kelley, instead of Robertson to get the save. Kelley came on and pitched a one, two, three ninth inning.
Kelley said this, in the locker room after the game: “I’ll just try to hold down the fort until D-Rob (Robertson) gets back,” according to Wallace Matthews, ESPN New York.com.
This means the man who collected the first Yankee Stadium Save after Mariano Rivera’s retirement was Shawn Kelly, and not David Robertson.
Due to the departure of one of the better middle-relievers in the game over the past few years (Robertson), Girardi will have to juggle the bullpen. It appears the initial approach will be closer-by-committee, but somebody will have to step-up. Dellin Betances and Shawn Kelley are the obvious choices at first glance.
Robertson's injury, added on to the Teixeira hamstring injury, means the Yankees are already getting pounded by the injury bug (only seven games in). This is something this veteran-filled team cannot afford, as in 2013 their players missed an incredible 1,496 games to injury.
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