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Phelps out, Nunez in

Starting pitcher David Phelps was placed on the 15 Day DL before the game against Baltimore today with what Joe Girardi described as “a real slight, slight strain” of his right forearm.”

“It’s not the ligament. I know the red flags always go up. But we decided to shut him down and he’ll start throwing again in 10 days basically that’s what we anticipate, and we’ll go from there,” Girardi said. “He had an MRI Friday and was evaluated by the doctor last night. We just felt it was in our best interests. There was discussions of just skipping him a start, but instead we are just putting him on the DL, seeing that we have the All-Star break on our side and making sure that he’s healthy.”

Phelps is 6-5 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 games (12 starts) this season, with his ERA taking a beating after giving up nine runs in Baltimore last Saturday. Girardi said Phelps informed him of the injury after he had allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings in Thursday’s 9-5 win against the Twins. Phelps’ move to the DL creates an open rotation spot for Ivan Nova, who threw the first complete game of his career and struck out 11 in Friday’s 3-2 comeback win over the Orioles. Nova was filling in for Hiroki Kuroda who skipped his start with a hip flexor, he should be in the rotation for his next start.

While the Yankees lost Phelps they have gained Eduardo Nunez. He is in the starting lineup at shortstop after he was activated off the 60 day DL for the first time since suffering a left oblique strain on May 5th. He played two rehab games in Single-A Charleston and two at Double-A Trenton earlier this week, adding “that’s enough to be comfortable.”

“Back to normal again, thank God,” said Nunez, who didn’t expect to miss more than two months when he originally was injured. “I never thought that. I thought maybe one week…Now I’m here again, and I’m glad.”

Girardi said infielders Luis Cruz, and Alberto Gonzalez both will remain on the roster for now since Mark Teixeira was shifted to the 60-day DL.

Dont get too comfortable with Nunez. With Jeter starting his rehab game for the RailRiders today, it shouldn’t be long until the Captain is back at shortstop and Nunez is back riding the pine.