MLB Notes: Yankees place Alex Rodriguez on DL with hamstring injury

Alex Rodriguez won’t be around in the next two weeks to help the New York Yankees attempt to get out of last place in the A.L. East.

Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day list Wednesday with a strained right hamstring.

The injury occurred Tuesday night while Rodriguez was running out a grounder in the fifth inning of a 4-1 loss to the Orioles.

Asked Wednesday to describe the extent of the injury, Rodriguez replied, “Our doctors in New York are going over it. I’m going on the DL, so it’s serious enough.”

He expressed hope Tuesday night that the injury wouldn’t put him on the disabled list. Instead, he’s stuck on the DL for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.

“The machine doesn’t lie,” he said. “Got to be smart. There is a lot of baseball to be played this year.”

Rodriguez, 40, is batting .194 in 20 games. Three of his five homers came in his last five games, and he had a four-RBI night in Boston on Sunday. “I thought I was seeing the ball better, and the quality of my at-bats were better,” he said. New York could use his bat. The Yankees started Wednesday with an 8-16 record and were tied for last in the A.L. with 82 runs.

“I can’t think of a worse time to go on the DL,” Rodriguez said. “The whole offense has been struggling. I talked to the team (Tuesday) and I said there is no reason we can’t score five runs per night.”

For now, the Yankees will be forced to do it without A-Rod. It’s the first time Rodriguez has been on the DL since 2013, when he had a hip injury that needed surgery.

“It’s not what you want because he has been swinging the bat better,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s important that someone steps up in his absence.”

Girardi would not hazard a guess as to how long Rodriguez would be shelved, leaving that call to team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.

“A lot of it depends on how he heals,” the manager said, “but we’re going to let Dr. Ahmad examine him. He has not seen it and I don’t want to speculate on what it is.”

To fill the vacant spot on the roster, New York recalled left-hander James Pazos from Triple-A Scranton/Wiles Barre.

Honesty key for Lincecum’s return

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he sees an opportunity on the major league staff for Tim Lincecum in a long-relief role. The key to converting a former franchise icon into a bullpen cog.

“It’s all about being honest with the player and knowing where both sides stand,” Bochy said. “I’m not just talking about Timmy but any player with history with the club.” This all goes into it when you’re discussing a contract, especially when you’re talking about a player who’s done what he’s done for us.

“Sure, we need to be honest and forthright with him.”

With former long man Chris Heston trying to find consistency at Triple-A Sacramento, the need for a durable arm who could pitch multiple innings – and perhaps be ready to step into a starting role to cover an injury – is greater than it was when pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, in February.

Young pitchers Clayton Blackburn and Ty Blach also are off to rough starts at Sacramento, giving the Giants reason to pursue starting pitching depth.

“We know Timmy,” Bochy said. “The fact is, that’s a role he could fit. I don’t know his level of interest in having a role like that, It doesn’t rule out any other role because of injuries” Bochy said.

Bochy said he spoke to Lincecum twice when the former franchise ace made stealth visits to Giants camp this spring. Lincecum has spent the past three weeks throwing to his own catcher at the Giants’ minor league complex, which they opened to him as a courtesy.

“My conversations with him have been more, ‘How’re you doing? How’s the arm? How’s the hip?’” Bochy said. “We didn’t go into a role.”

The interest for Lincecum will be robust, with at least a dozen and perhaps as many as 20 teams sending representatives to watch his Friday workout in Arizona. But the market for his services might be more limited now than it would have been in February because teams have set their rosters and in many cases spent their budget.

Lincecum told friends in September that he wanted to return to the Giants, and believed in his heart that he would be back.

Would Lincecum go someplace random like Baltimore for a chance to start? Or would his desire for the familiar outweigh a promise to start following a minor league buildup phase? That’s even less predictable than what Lincecum’s pitches will look like.

Clearing the bases

Braves RF Nick Markakis left the team because of a family emergency, manager Fredi Gonzalez said before Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Mets. Markakis is expected to be back in time for Friday’s home game against Arizona. … The Indians acquired backup catcher Chris Gimenez from the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. Cleveland was in need of another experienced catcher after Roberto Perez injured his right thumb last weekend making a tag in Philadelphia and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. … Angels starter Garrett Richards says he will be re-evaluated on to determine whether he can make his next start after dealing with fatigue. Richards went only four innings in his start on Sunday against Texas because of dehydration and cramping.