TAMPA, Fl., — Anthony Rizzo might not be able to play in this weekend’s three-game series against the Rays because of his bad back. The three-time All Star also not on the team lineup for the first game at Tropicana Field.
Aaron Boone, the manager of the Yankees, said that the first baseman didn’t go to Tampa with the team because he didn’t start Wednesday’s game against the Angels, which the Yankees lost 4-3.
Boone told Peter Rosenberg and Dave Rothenberg on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN radio that Rizzo stayed behind to visit Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles.
Boone also said that the first baseman could “possibly get epidural injections,” which would “give him the relief he needs.” Boone didn’t say what kind of injections Rizzo would get, but he did say that they could put Rizzo “down for a few days.”
“There’s a chance that he could get an injection and probably miss this Tampa series, potentially,” Boone added.
The Yankees have a six-game lead over the Rays in the American League East.
Rizzo has called the pain in his lower back “spasms.” From July 5–8 and August 5–9, they didn’t let him play in any games.
Boone had some good things to say about Rizzo, who has hit 30 home runs and driven in 71 runs in 414 at-bats. DJ LeMahieu has been his backup at the position.
“The prognosis is really good for him,” Boone said, “He had an a MRI about a week or 10 days ago, which, structurally speaking, looked better than it did in spring training.”
Boone added that “Rizzo has been grinding through this pretty much for the past few weeks. Obviously, good enough to play and be productive the last couple of days, but it is something that is definitely weighing him down and hopefully seeing Dr. Watkins and getting treated will put in him a good spot moving forward these final several weeks.”
The first baseman can leave his two-year, $32 million contract this offseason.
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