DJ LeMahieu injury: Yankees continue to drop like flies

DJ LeMahieu is hitting the injured list for the New York Yankees, adding to the ever-growing list of Yankees on the IL.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is hitting the injured list due to a sprained toe, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone in an appearance on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN 98.7 in New York.

For the Yankees, that roster move was one of a few that the club made on Thursday. In addition, the Yankees activated left-handed starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. off of the 15-day IL and they recalled Miguel Andújar from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Yankees place DJ LeMahieu on the injured list

With DJ LeMahieu hitting the injured list with a sprained toe and Nestor Cortes Jr. being activated off the IL, the Yankees still have a ton of players on the injured list. They have 15 players on the injured list, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo, infielder/outfielder Matt Carpenter, pitchers Aroldis Chapman, Luis Gil, Luis Severino, Zack Britton, Chad Green, Michael King, and many of their trade deadline acquisitions.

Those include outfielder Andrew Benintendi (fractured hand), outfielder Harrison Bader (plantar fasciitis) who has yet to play a game with the Yankees since they traded for him at the trade deadline from the Cardinals, and reliever Scott Effross (shoulder). In addition, the club’s primary third baseman Josh Donaldson is on the paternity list.

LeMahieu has been one of the Yankees’ better offensive players this season. He has hit .262/.358/.381 with 12 home runs, 46 RBI, and an OPS+ of 113. His 3.8 rWAR is second on the Yankees only to Aaron Judge, who has an 8.6 rWAR.

However, LeMahieu has struggled in recent weeks, much like the rest of the team. In his last 25 games, the Yankees have gone 9-16 and he has hit .153/.222/.204 with one home run and four RBI.

The Yankees have rebounded a bit since they have hit the skids since July 9 but they won’t be facing the Twins much longer, who the Yankees continue to annihilate. After facing them tonight, the Yankees face the Rays, Red Sox, and Brewers in the next three series.