Duquette on Nova's injury
MLB.com's Jim Duquette discusses Ivan Nova's partial UCL tear in his right elbow and how it affects the Yankees rotation

One more Yankee has made his way to the disabled list and for right hander Ivan Nova it may be for the season. Nova underwent an MRI on Sunday that revealed a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an injury that usually leads to season ending Tommy John surgery and 12-18 months of recovery time.

Following the results of the MRI on Sunday, the New York Yankees placed Nova on the 15 day disabled list.  Nova was due to be evaluated further today by team doctor Christopher Ahmad.

"It's really unfortunate. It's a guy that, obviously, we were counting on pretty heavily this year," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. 

The injury occurred in the fifth inning of Saturday night's 15-1 victory by the Tampa Bay Rays  Nova had just finished  throwing his 82nd pitch of the game, a 90 mph curveball to Evan Longoria, when he felt a sharp pain in his right elbow. Nova grimaced in pain and began shaking his arm.  

"It was just kind of a little pop, like when you feel a friction or something," Nova said of the 1-0 curveball to Longoria. "Honestly, I didn't think that I was hurt. When you're out there in the game, you just want to pitch.

"... It's hard," Nova added. "I really don't know what to say. I'm sad right now."

When the injury occurred the Rays were shelling Nova for six runs on eight hits that included four home runs in four plus innings of work, the worst performance by a Yankees starter in over 100 years.  Girardi said that Nova never complained about any issues with his arm before the pitch to Longoria.

"It's really unfortunate. It's a guy that, obviously, we were counting on pretty heavily this year," Girardi said. "He'll be re-evaluated by Dr. Ahmad tomorrow and I guess you go from there to see what the next step is."

The Yankees have not announced who will fill Nova's roster spot.  The Yankees begin a three game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday. Girardi did not rule out moving right-handers David Phelps or Adam Warren from the bullpen to the rotation.  Sunday's emergency starter against the Rays, VIdal Nuno, is also a possibility.  Right-hander Alfredo Aceves is a minor league option at Triple-A  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Obviously we're going to need another starter and we'll have to make some adjustments," said Girardi.  "Everyone is going to have a chance to put themselves in the mix."

Nova, 27, is 2-2 with a 8.27 ERA in four starts this season.  He began the season as the fourth starter in the Yankees rotation behind CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, and Masahiro Tanaka.

"Having a bad start makes me feel terrible, because I want to pitch good. But having an injury like the one I have now, that's devastating," Nova said. "Not because of me, but because of my family and friends. It hurts. I know a lot of people feel bad because of this. We have to keep going. We have to keep going forward."

Yankee Brief:

The Yankees sent infielder Scott Sizemore down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

RHP Matt Daley was designated for assignment.  Daley relieved Nova after the injury and fared no better in the 15-1 rout by the Tampa Bay Rays.  Daley was tagged for six runs in only 1 1/3 innings of relief.

RHP Preston Claiborne was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and placed in the bullpen.

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