Yankees: Luis Cessa to start on Monday, Jonathan Loaisiga to DL at Triple-A

Yankees rookie Jonathan Loaisiga was expected to start game two of Monday’s doubleheader against the Orioles, but shoulder inflammation will force him to the DL and Luis Cessa will take the mound instead.

Following Sonny Gray’s second straight debacle in his start Friday night the last thing the Yankees needed was an injury to another starting pitcher. The 23-year old Loaisiga showed real promise in his first four big league starts, but now he will be out for the foreseeable future and will be placed on the DL at Triple-A Scranton.

Fortunately, Masahiro Tanaka will return from the DL Tuesday night, however, the news about Loaisiga has to be concerning. Based on what we’ve seen from him so far he would have been a much better option than Cessa to get the start Monday night in a game that the Yankees really need to win. With the Red Sox refusing to lose every game matters from here on out.

Time and time again Cessa hasn’t made the most of his opportunities so it’s questionable as to why Aaron Boone is giving him another start. Part of it has to be the fact that he’s on the 40-man roster, but he was not good in Philadelphia the last time he was handed a spot start. He went three innings and gave up three earned on five hits and the Yankees lost the game. So even though the Orioles are the worst team in baseball there have to better options the team can go to.

The guy Yankee fans including myself would love to see is top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield. He has been on a roll down at Triple-A and on Friday it was announced he will represent the Yankees in the Future’s Game at All-Star weekend. It’s a well-deserved honor for the 22-year old left-handed but sooner or later the Yankees have to consider giving him a chance to shine at the big league level.

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I know a move would have to be made to clear up a spot for him on the 40-man roster, but he’s done everything possible at Triple-A to earn a call-up. The time is now to see what kind of impact he can make for a rotation that is really scuffling outside of Luis Severino and CC Sabathia.

They need a spark and Sheffield can provide just that while Brian Cashman and company continue to assess the trade market for another starting pitcher.

For Loaisiga, you hope this is nothing worse than just inflammation. He has a very bright future and he’s a guy who has had arm issues in the past. This likely means we won’t see him for quite some time at the big league level, which is another blow to the Yankees starting rotation.

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This should only escalate their need for another starter, especially if Sheffield is not an internal option they’re going to call up any time soon.