Fernando Cruz placed on IL in Yankees bullpen blow

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.One of the Yankees’ better pitchers who owns perhaps the Yankees’ best pitch will miss some time.Fernando Cruz was moved to the injured list Thursday with shoulder inflammation.Cruz, who said he recently received a cortisone shot, hopes to miss the minimum amount of time.Manager Aaron Boone said he did not think the injury was “too significant.”The Yankees called up lefty Brent Headrick to replace Cruz for the series finale against the Rangers in The Bronx.Cruz had not pitched since Saturday, when he threw 26 pitches in 1 ⅓ innings against the Mets.

He has been an excellent setup man since arriving from the Reds and has a 2.66 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 23 ⅔ innings, his splitter virtually untouchable.It was curious when Boone opted for Ian Hamilton for a second straight day Wednesday rather than Cruz, and after the Yankees win Boone acknowledged his bullpen was shorthanded.Headrick owned a 3.72 ERA in eight games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and had pitched well with the Yankees to begin the season (5 ⅓ scoreless innings).He was optioned early last month and had missed time with SWB because of an oblique injury....