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Yankees Notebook: Anthony Rizzo out with neck stiffness, Carlos Rodon continues to progress

SEATTLE — Anthony Rizzo didn’t start the Yankees’ series opener in Seattle on Monday, as the first baseman is dealing with neck stiffness.

Rizzo left Sunday’s win over the Padres after getting tangled up with Fernando Tatis Jr. on an awkward pickoff play at first. Rizzo spent some time down in pain, and he exited for what the Yankees called “precautionary reasons.”

“Should be fine. Just something we didn’t want to mess with too much. Head-wise, he’s fine,” Aaron Boone said. “He’ll get treatment. I would expect him to be available probably on some level tonight off the bench.”

Boone added that Rizzo won’t receive additional tests after passing some on Sunday. The manager also said that a day of rest after a cross-country flight for a long road trip wasn’t the worst thing in the world for Rizzo.

“Hopefully, [it’s] something that kind of serves him well,” Boone continued.

With Rizzo out of Monday’s lineup, DJ LeMahieu slotted in at first. Willie Calhoun, meanwhile, hit third.

Boone anticipated Rizzo playing on Tuesday, but the Yankees will see how he feels before making that call.

Rizzo has been one of the team’s best and most consistent hitters this season, slashing .304/.376/.505 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. He leads the Yankees in average and total bases, and he’s second to Aaron Judge in homers, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS+.

RODON’S BULLPEN

Carlos Rodon, on the Yankees’ West Coast trip, threw 20 pitches Monday in a high-intensity bullpen. He said that the session went well and that he didn’t experience any back issues while throwing all of his pitches.

Rodon’s fastball hit 93 mph, which is faster than he reached in spring training.

Boone said the plan is for Rodon to throw two more bullpens on this road trip. From there, he would move to live sessions and a five-day schedule before a rehab assignment.

The idea of facing hitters soon thrilled the left-hander. “I need it,” Rodon said while adding that being around his teammates over the last few days has been energizing.

While Rodon is moving in the right direction, he didn’t want to set a soft timeline for his Yankees debut.

“You trap yourself when you start thinking that way, to be honest,” he said. “Everyone has an idea in their mind, but I try to keep that out of my mind. I know it’s so cliche to say, [but] I just want to focus on what comes next.”

DONALDSON AND STANTON

Josh Donaldson will continue his rehab at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, per Boone. The skipper also said it’s possible that Giancarlo Stanton begins his own rehab assignment there as well on Tuesday, though that’s not definitive.

Both players are on the shelf with hamstring injuries.

Donaldson has already appeared in three rehab games at Triple-A on this assignment. The third baseman is 3-for-9 with a double, a home run and two RBI.

TREVINO’S TIMELINE

Jose Trevino is also in Seattle with the Yankees. Boone said the catcher could be activated before the end of this series.

The plan was for Trevino, who hasn’t played since May 17 due to his own hamstring injury, to go through a full workout Monday.

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Source: Berkshire mont

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