Yankees’ injury update slip-up proves Jonathan Loaisiga far from return

As the Yankees Injury Wheel turns, sometimes you accidentally find out things you don’t wanna know.

In the middle of beating the Orioles on Tuesday night, a 7-2 game that often felt closer than it actually was — probably because Aroldis Chapman showed up — fans were dealt one of those unfortunate reminders of where this team stands.

It all started out so innocently. Meredith Marakovits was asked about the team’s many rehabbers, like Domingo German, who started at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday and looked good, whiffing four in two scoreless innings.

Unfortunately, the booth couldn’t let her go without also digging on Jonathan Loaisiga, the Yankees’ most essential reliever.

Offhandedly, Marakovits claimed he’s still not at the place where he’s throwing, tossing, or doing much of anything with a baseball.

The kicker came, though, when she admitted he’s behind Luis Severino, someone most fans thought they’d never see again.

Yankees’ Jonathan Loaisiga/Luis Severino update is both good and bad news?

Oh. Great.

Severino is reportedly throwing to live batters this week, though we’ll believe it when we see it. Loaisiga, it would appear, is still not ready to consider such a thing. And you knew Marakovits had no interest in saying that out loud before the impatient booth prompted her to leak it.

For what it’s worth, Aaron Boone’s pregame statement on Loaisiga was just as depressing, though it was delivered with a good amount of workshopped “group think.” According to the skipper, the team’s future closer is “moving in the right direction,” but still hasn’t picked up a baseball yet.

Just hate that phrasing. Makes it sound like the player isn’t strong enough to lift it. And maybe that’s true!

In terms of bullpen-lengthening options, German seems on the verge of completing his comeback, and could return for the first time since his near-no-hitter at Fenway later this week. That will be a massive help to a bullpen that’s currently relying on Michael King for chunky innings, and just lost Sal Romano when he tried to stab a line-drive single with his bare hand.

From now on, nobody ask about Loaisiga until he’s lifted a baseball, please.

Yankees: Late-inning drama proves Jonathan Loaisiga needs to close games

Chad Green's blown save against the White Sox on Saturday night further proved that Jonathan Loaisiga needs to close games for the Yankees.