Yankees put J.A. Happ on DL with hand, foot and mouth disease | What it means

Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ’s scheduled start for Saturday, August 4, 2018 (8/4/18) against the Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. is off because he is going on the 10-day disabled list with hand, foot and mouth disease.

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The Yankees‘ optimism that newly acquired lefty starter J.A. Happ will make a quick recovery from hand, foot and mouth disease is gone.

Instead of flying to Boston to make a scheduled start Saturday afternoon against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Happ was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday afternoon.

Happ’s start will be filled by righty Luis Cessa, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier Thursday. 

Happ’s DL stint will be backdated to Monday – the day after his successful Yankees’ debut – which makes him eligible to be activated on Aug. 10, a week from Friday.

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This issue could lead to Cessa getting a second start next Thursday night at Yankee Stadium in a series opener against the Texas Rangers with Happ possibly returning the following night.

Because Happ’s virus was diagnosed on Tuesday as mild, the Yankees were hopeful that he wouldn’t have to miss a start. Manager Aaron Boone was optimistic as of Wednesday morning when talking to Happ on the phone and getting a good progress report.

But a day later, Happ apparently hasn’t progressed enough to where the Yankees feel comfortable pitching him and having him around teammates because his virus is contagious.

The Yankees acquired Happ, who was an American League All-Star this season, on July 26 for infielder Brandon Drury and Triple-A outfielder Billy McKinney.

Happ did well in his one and only Yankees start, as he was the winning pitcher last Sunday after allowing one run over six innings in a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.