Ivan Nova was diagnosed Sunday with a partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and is expected to undergo season-ending Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. That leaves a big gap in the Yankees’ starting rotation -- one that will be filled, at least initially, by left-hander Vidal Nuno.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi officially named Nuno the club’s new fifth starter on Tuesday evening, according to WFAN’s Sweeny Murti. The 26-year-old southpaw tossed five scoreless innings and struck out six batters in what was thought to be a spot start Sunday versus the Rays.
His next start will be this Saturday at Yankee Stadium against the visiting Angels.
Nuno owns a 3.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 20/11 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 career major league innings. He had a 1.14 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and 30/2 K/BB ratio in 25 frames last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
