Yankees lose 4-2 to Rays on Monday night after non-roster pitcher deals in first spring start.
TAMPA — The Yankees already know 12 pitchers that will leave Florida with them on Saturday if everyone stays heathy.
Actually, they’ve probably known since the beginning of spring training, although back in mid-February there still was a possibility that a free agent starter would be added.
Ellsbury sure bet to open on DL | What it means
The starting rotation, in order, will be Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery, and the bullpen will include closer Aroldis Chapman, setup relievers David Robertson and Dellin Robertson, lefty Chasen Shreve plus Tommy Kahnle, Adam Warren and Chad Green.
And if the Yankees keep a 13th pitcher, a possibility all along and even moreso now that outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is a lock to open on the disabled list, then relievers Ben Heller and Jonathan Holder are the leading candidates with starters Domingo German and Luis Cessa also contenders to be long men.
Here’s another name to remember:
David Hale.
The veteran righty who attended Princeton isn’t realistically in the mix for a season-opening roster spot because he’s not on the 40-man roster, but the Atlanta native has significant big-league experience and he’s had a good camp after being signed to a minor-league contract on Feb. 1.
Hale was the Yankees starter in Monday night’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays and he turned in a great outing allowing one hit over three shutout innings with five strikeouts and no walks.
“I was very pleased with that,” Hale said. “My off-speed stuff felt as good as it ever has. To do that late in spring training and at least put in a good name for myself, I couldn’t be happier.”
Hale’s done well all spring, going 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA working 10 2/3 innings in five outings, the first four in relief.
Hale, 30, spent all of last season in the minors in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization, but he appeared in 66 big-league games, 20 as a starter, the previous four seasons pitching for the Atlanta Braves (2013-14) and Colorado Rockies (2015-16).
Hale likely will begin this season in Triple-A, but if he continues pitching well, he’ll be in the mix for a call-up if the Yankees lose a starter to an injury or they temporarily go to six starters to give their rotation extra rest.
“I do my best not to get caught up in it, but I feel like I can help out in that situation or in long relief,” Hale said. “This team has a chance to win it all and it’s the Yankees … why wouldn’t I want to be here?”
NOTABLE
— The Yankees led 2-0 after eight innings, but Adam Warren blew the game allowing four ninth-inning runs. Denard Span and Kevin Kiermaier started the inning with singles, then David Rodriguez lined a three-run homer to left for a 3-2 Rays lead. Two batters later, Carlos Gomez hit a solo homer to make it 4-2.
— The Yankees changed Sonny Gray’s schedule from starting Monday’s 1 p.m. Grapefruit League in Lakeland to starting a 10 a.m. minor-league game in Tampa due to the threat of heavy rains hitting the area all afternoon.
— Giancarlo Stanton was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He’s now 1-for-16 in his last six games, lowering his average from .333 to .205.
— Out almost a month with an oblique injury, Ellsbury was supposed to face CC Sabathia in a simulated game on Monday until being scratched due to flu-like symptoms. He’s likely to begin the season on the DL, manager Aaron Boone said.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday: Yankees at Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., 1 p.m., No TV. RHP Brady Lail vs. RHP Mike Fiers.
Wednesday: Baltimore Orioles at Yankees in Tampa, 6:35 p.m., No TV. TBA vs. RHP Luis Cessa.
Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.