#Yankees’ injury crisis worsens with Zack Britton headed to IL

The Yankees lost another key player Thursday, as Zack Britton was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring suffered during Wednesday’s loss to Tampa Bay.

Manager Aaron Boone hadn’t spoken to the left-hander as of Thursday morning to determine the details of how the injury occurred, but said “it seemed like it tightened up and he felt it on the last couple of pitches.”

It leaves the Yankees shorthanded in the bullpen again, just days after the return of closer Aroldis Chapman following his recovery from COVID-19.

And it’s another in a growing list of injuries the Yankees have suffered in the early portion of this coronavirus-shortened season, even after the organization revamped its strength and conditioning program in the offseason when they dismissed director of strength and conditioning Matt Krause and hired Eric Cressey as director of player health and performance.

When asked about the injury woes continuing despite the resources poured into the area during the offseason, general manager Brian Cashman replied in a text message: “Player care will always be a focus and our intent is to provide the best efforts towards that always while recognizing this is a sport where injuries due occur regardless.’’

Britton joined Aaron Judge (right calf), Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring) and Kyle Higashioka (right oblique), as well as DJ LeMahieu, who suffered a sprained left thumb on an awkward swing, on the IL.

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Tommy Kahnle and Luis Severino are also out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Boone reiterated the challenges of trying to keep players healthy in this unique season that featured a short spring training 2.0 before starting the abbreviated regular season in July.

“It was a quicker ramp up into the intensity of a major league environment,’’ Boone said. “That’s why, going back to the start of all this, we were mindful of the 60 games and the urgency, but also trying to be mindful of players’ health and build up as best as possible… You try to strike that balance and assess where guys are all the time.”