Luis Cessa is "probably" the spot starter for the Yankees in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader in Baltimore, a decision manager Aaron Boone revealed Saturday afternoon in Toronto.
In making the announcement, Boone also revealed that the other potential candidate, Jonathan Loaisiga, will visit team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad in New York on Monday after a recent MRI found some inflammation in his right shoulder.
"When he went down to Scranton, he went in and said he had a little tightness in his shoulder," Boone said of Loaisiga. "He actually had an MRI yesterday and it doesn't seem too serious, but he's going to see Dr. Ahmad on Monday, and we'll have a clearer picture on that timeframe."
Loaisiga, who was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following his start on Monday, was indeed placed on the RailRiders' disabled list on Saturday (retroactive to July 5).
In other Yankees injury news, catcher Gary Sanchez told the media that he "feels good" and thinks he's "ahead of schedule" in his rehab from a groin strain after catching Masahiro Tanaka's bullpen session and taking two rounds of batting practice prior to Saturday's game.
Sanchez added that he would like to return prior to the All-Star break, but Boone was a little more cautious in laying out a potential timeline.
"I think best case is maybe the Sunday we're in Cleveland he can start rehab games, but he's still got things to get through," Boone said. "I think he's getting close to really ramping it up and hopefully getting ready to get some rehab games in, with the idea that he could be starting with us coming out of the break."
Sanchez was placed on the disabled list on June 25, and the Yankees later announced that they expected him to miss three to four weeks with a Grade 1 strain of his right groin. The Yankees' first game following the All-Star break is July 20, which would be right at the back end of that timeline.