Yankees activate McMahon off injured list

McMahon hit the injured list with a throat infection earlier this week. The 31-year-old infielder should return to New York’s bench mix at some point next week.

McMahon has just 39 plate appearances in the month of June, hitting .222/.282/.389 with two home runs and four RBI. With Trent Grisham (hamstring) likely being activated off the injured list soon, the Yankees could simply opt to play Jose Caballero at third base the rest of the way.

McMahon connected on a 430-foot (108.3-mph EV) solo shot off of Sean Burke to open the third inning that tied the game at one run apiece. That would be his only hit in the ballgame. For the season, the 31-year-old slugger is slashing .212/.273/.369 with eight long balls and 23 RBI.

The Yankees got all of their runs on homers from McMahon in the fourth and Ben Rice in the fifth and then held on from there. McMahon, who had gone hitless in six straight games, also singled and stole a base tonight. He’s at .194/.265/.315 for the season, and he should be in danger of losing a significant amount of playing time once José Caballero returns, assuming the Yankees don’t send Anthony Volpe back to the minors.

The walks were his first since April 19. McMahon was supposed to get a break against a left-hander today, but he entered after Jasson Domínguez was injured on the first play of the game and had one of his best games of the year. He’s 9-for-22 with a homer this month, raising his OPS from .518 to .662.

McMahon’s homer to right would have been an out or maybe a double in most parks, but it was the product of a very nice at-bat against Jacob deGrom. McMahon’s glove hasn’t been quite as strong as usual this year, and with his .637 OPS and Anthony Volpe being healthy, he’s under some pressure to pick it up. This was a nice start.

Volpe will head to Double-A Somerset to start the week because they are closer to New York, and will play three games in two days on Tuesday and Wednesday. That could mean Volpe returns to the Yankees on Thursday. If he pushes Jose Caballero off of shortstop, that could mean Caballero gets more at-bats in the outfield or third base, which might impact playing time for Ryan McMahon or Jasson Dominguez.

The 31-year-old slugger jumped all over a first-pitch cutter from Lance McCullers Jr. in the second inning, belting a 336-foot (99.8 mph EV) solo shot that increased the Yankees’ early lead to 4-0. That would be his only hit in the ballgame, finishing the night 1-for-4. On the season, McMahon is slashing a horrifying .151/.286/.264 with two homers, five RBI and a 20/10 K/BB ratio in 63 plate appearances.

McMahon’s first homer of the season came in a big spot in the eighth inning, and with the game tied at two. Stepping in to pinch-hit for Amed Rosario and with a runner on first, McMahon blasted an opposite-field homer to left to put the Yankees up 4-2, putting them in position to take the first game of the weekend series. McMahon has struggled out of the gate this season and entered the game batting .140. Hopefully, this kickstarts a much-needed turnaround for the veteran lefty.

Even with left-hander Sam Aldegheri on the mound, the Yankees will let Rice play first base over Paul Goldschmidt. This might be because Aaron Boone doesn’t expect Aldegheri, who’s pitched just 13 innings in three minor league starts, to pitch deep into this game. However, we know that Rice has hit lefties well of late, so this could be a good indication that the Yankees are open to getting Rice into the lineup when they have to face many lefties in a short period of time. Amed Rosario will get into the starting lineup at third base today with Ryan McMahon sitting, even though McMahon started against the last lefty they faced.