ARLINGTON, Texas — With three games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees still have plenty of issues to work out in their bullpen.
Miguel Castro came off the injured list on Monday, giving the Yankees a much-needed healthy arm.
He gave up a run on two singles in the eighth inning of a 3-1 win against the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
The right-hander had been out since July with a strained shoulder. While he has been inconsistent since coming over from the Mets in a spring training deal for lefty Joely Rodriguez, Castro will be welcomed back to a bullpen that has been ravaged by injuries.
Ron Marinaccio remained in New York after being removed from Sunday’s loss to the Orioles in The Bronx with right shin soreness.
Aaron Boone said Monday night doctors were still evaluating test results done on the shin to determine Marinaccio’s status.
Zack Britton became the latest reliever to head to the IL, with his comeback from last year’s UCL surgery cut short by arm fatigue. Chad Green and Michael King are out for the year with elbow injuries, Clay Holmes is scheduled to start throwing on Tuesday after being sidelined until at least the beginning of the ALDS with rotator cuff inflammation. And Wandy Peralta is on the IL with back tightness, although he’s expected to be back for the playoffs.
Aroldis Chapman — while healthy — has been terrible and far from a lock to make the postseason roster. Albert Abreu is also on the IL with right elbow inflammation.
It all adds up to a Yankee bullpen with no clear closer and a significant lack of depth as they head into the playoffs.
To make room for Castro on the roster, Sunday’s starter, Chi Chi Gonzalez, was designated for assignment.
DJ LeMahieu acknowledged his right toe injury remains an issue.
“It’s definitely there,’’ LeMahieu said before starting at first base on Monday.
“It feels a little better than a couple weeks ago,’’ LeMahieu said. “I think it’s good enough.”
LeMahieu went 1-for-3 with a single before being replaced by pinch-runner Oswaldo Cabrera in the top of the sixth, a move that was planned going into the game.
The Yankees will have five days off between the end of the regular season and the start of the ALDS on Oct. 11 in The Bronx and that could serve LeMahieu well.
Boone said “it’s still too early” to know if LeMahieu will be able to play up to his standards in the playoffs.
“These few days here will be important to see what we have,’’ Boone said. “We’ll continue to see what it looks like and how he’s bouncing back.”
With LeMahieu at first, Gleyber Torres was originally starting at second on Monday, but Torres was scratched prior to Monday’s game with what the Yankees called “flu-like symptoms.”
Boone said Torres could return as soon as Tuesday.
His unavailability on Monday got Oswald Peraza, who went 2-for-3, into the lineup at second.
Asked if Peraza could play himself onto the postseason roster, Boone said: “We’ll see. It depends on who’s healthy going into the postseason, which you have decisions to make on DJ, [Matt] Carpenter [and Andrew] Benintendi, even. Those kinds of things can all factor into that.”
Peraza has spent much of his time on the bench since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“I think Oswald’s done a great job since he’s come up,’’ Boone said. “I think this has been valuable time for him. He’s gotten some opportunities to play, he’s played well. He’s handled himself well. I think it’s been really good for him to be in this environment, coming off of a full Triple-A season where he had a strong year. He’s played himself into a situation where if he has to be in the mix, you feel pretty good about that.’’
Aaron Judge was named AL Player of the Month for September after batting .417 with 10 homers during the month.
— Additional reporting by Greg Joyce