DETROIT — It turns out the illness that Ryan McMahon has been dealing with for more than a week was a little more complicated than an ear and throat infection.
The Yankees third baseman landed on the injured list Wednesday after he was diagnosed with a peritonsillar abscess that he had to have drained early in the morning, providing him some relief after a brutal few days of pain.
It initially presented as an ear infection and then a throat infection before doctors found the abscess, which, after draining, required 72 hours of inactivity, resulting in his 10-day IL stint.
“It’s just really painful, giving me migraines,” McMahon said Wednesday at Comerica Park before the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Tigers. “I wasn’t able to eat, couldn’t really open my jaw much.”
McMahon, who said he was not contagious, indicated he has been dealing with feeling sick since last Monday, but it was manageable until around Sunday. After the Yankees flew from New York to Detroit, McMahon said he was “grinding a little bit” by Monday, when the symptoms got worse.
“I actually feel so much better right now than I did the last 3-4 days,” McMahon said. “But apparently there’s a lot more risks involved now that there’s an open wound in there. … After these 72 hours, I should be able to do everything.”
Because McMahon has not played since Sunday, the Yankees backdated the IL stint to Monday, meaning he is first eligible to be activated next Thursday. In the meantime, the Yankees called up Oswaldo Cabrera from Triple-A to fill his roster spot.
“The doctor said they definitely want [McMahon] to be inactive for a few days, so with the two days backdated, it made the most sense,” manager Aaron Boone said.
José Caballero started at third base in McMahon’s absence Wednesday, but Boone said he expects Amed Rosario to factor in there too in the coming days as the Yankees are set to face three straight lefties against the Red Sox.
Max Schuemann started in center field for just the third time in his career Wednesday and again found a way to have a hand in a Yankees win.
He put together a highlight-reel bottom of the sixth inning, making a diving catch in the left-center field gap and then, on the next play, a sliding grab in the right-center field gap.
For the first time in a month (with four starts in between), Ryan Weathers did not allow a home run while holding the Tigers to two runs (one earned) on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
He still gave up some hard contact, but got help from his defense like Schuemann and made tough pitches when he had to.
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“Felt good to give up some hard contact and [have] it go to people,” Weathers said. “They were just making good swings. It was a really good lineup. Today was a grind, for sure.”
José Caballero appeared to be in pain after swinging through a pitch in the top of the seventh inning, grabbing near his back or side.
But after being tended to by a trainer and Boone, Caballero remained in the game.
“He felt a little something,” Boone said. “He’s fine.”
