Yankees News: Gary Sanchez Out of Games Until Friday with Back Injury

The New York Yankees will remain cautious with Gary Sanchez as manager Aaron Boone announced Monday the catcher will be out until Friday, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Sanchez will continue working out during the week, including doing "catching stuff" on Monday and hitting during the week. The plan will be to rejoin the team for games in four days.

According to ESPN's Marly Rivera, the 27-year-old said Sunday his back had been bothering him "on and off this spring."

Sanchez struggled early in spring training, going 1-for-17 at the plate in seven games. Returning by Friday should give him enough time to get back to full strength by Opening Day against the Baltimore Orioles on March 26.

However, injuries have been a significant problem for the catcher, who has never played more than 122 games in a season in the majors. Even though he's often used as a designated hitter on rest days, he's sat out 129 total games over the past two seasons.

These issues are also a continuation of a string of bad luck for the Yankees heading into the 2020 season.

The starting rotation has been decimated, with Luis Severino needing Tommy John surgery and James Paxton out with a back injury, while key hitters Aaron Judge (rib) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) have also been sidelined this spring.

New York overcame similar problems to win 103 games last season, but the team might need even more from its reserves in 2020.