The Yankees placed center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury on the disabled list because of a right knee sprain he suffered in New York's loss to the Nationals in Washington on Tuesday night.
Ellsbury left the game in the fourth inning. MLB.com reported he tweaked the knee while swinging at a pitch from the Nats' Gio Gonzalez. An MRI revealed more damage than originally expected, so the Yankees opted to be cautious with their leadoff hitter.
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Chris Young, who was re-signed as a free agent in the offseason, has been a pleasant surprise in the early going and is now in line for extra at-bats while Ellsbury sits. Outfielder Slade Heathcott is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday to fill Ellsbury's roster spot.
Ellsbury, 31, is batting .324 with one home run and 14 stolen bases in 37 games this season.