With rosters expanding, the Yankees officially announced their expected September call-ups on Monday, activating Ryan Yarbrough and recalling J.C. Escarra.
The left-handed Yarbrough, on the injured list with an oblique strain since June 22, will pitch out of the Yankees’ bullpen. A swingman throughout his career, the junk-baller initially worked in relief this season before thriving as a rotation replacement.
Yarbrough built up as a starter during his rehab assignment – he allowed five earned runs, walked one and struck out 12 over 11 innings at Triple-A – so he can give the Yankees multiple innings, in addition to another southpaw alongside Tim Hill.
Yarbrough has a 3.90 ERA over 55.1 total innings this season.
Escarra, meanwhile, has hit .202/.296/.333 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 40 big league games this season, his first in the majors. One of baseball’s best framing catchers, he made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, a dream come true for the former Uber driver and substitute teacher.
However, the Yankees rarely used the 30-year-old rookie. If all goes according to plan, that will remain the case throughout the rest of the regular season, as Austin Slater is expected back from a rehab assignment in the next few days.
Slater, out with a hamstring injury, was acquired from the White Sox prior to the trade deadline. The right-hander swinger has an .814 OPS against lefties this season and a .795 mark for his career, which is exactly why the Yankees got him.
Slater, who hasn’t played in a big league game since Aug. 4, has appeared in two rehab games at Triple-A thus far.
