Yankees Place Ryan McMahon On 10-Day IL As Max Fried Gets Closer To Return

Ryan McMahon was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left thumb sprain Friday, but the New York Yankees third baseman said he'll just miss the minimum amount of time.

"Not great news.

Could have been worse," McMahon said before the Yankees opened a three-game series with Toronto.

"Obviously I’m not happy with it, but thankful that most likely no surgery and just the minimal time." McMahon was injured on a play at second base in Wednesday’s 5-3 win at Baltimore.

He singled in the second inning and jammed his thumb when he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

"Just felt like it probably would have been a couple more days where he’s maybe a little bit compromised," manager Aaron Boone said.

"So I kind of don’t want to create anything habit-wise that’s bad, so just felt like probably the right thing to do here." McMahon said he felt fine in the field, but was having a difficult time swinging — though he was able to take swings in the batting cage.

"I feel like with what these games meaning as much as they are down the stretch, me going out there at 50% probably wasn’t the best," McMahon said.

McMahon is hitting .218 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 108 games.

McMahon also missed 10 games earlier this season with a throat infection.

To fill McMahon’s roster spot, Max Schuemann was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.

Schuemann batted .194 in 40 games earlier this season, but his stay on the Yankees could be short if Cody Bellinger is ready to return from a left hamstring strain.

Bellinger started his minor league rehabilitation assignment Thursday, was scheduled to play again Friday before taking Saturday off and could return Sunday.

Fried will throw a side session Saturday and if it goes well, the left-hander could be on track to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible next week.