Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Yankees place Ryan on DL with back injury

NEW YORK -- The Yankees announced Wednesday that Brendan Ryan is headed back to the disabled list, this time a 15-day stint with a right thoracic strain in his upper back retroactive to Monday.

Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot for #ASGWorthy players

Ryan is sidelined again after just six games with the Yankees this season. He made his 2015 debut on June 10 against the Nationals after a right calf strain put him on the DL in Spring Training. While rehabbing in Florida, Ryan then tweaked a hamstring while running.

"It's unfortunate, and he played pretty well when he was in there," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "But he's having a hard time in his upper thoracic region and it's not calmed down as much as we want, so we DLed it because you can't continue to play short."

The Yankees also optioned right-handers Branden Pinder and Diego Moreno to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following their 10-2 win over the Phillies on Wednesday.

Taking Ryan's place on the 25-man roster was Ivan Nova, who was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list to make his first Major League start of the 2015 season on Wednesday. Nova had been sidelined following Tommy John surgery. He picked up the win with 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

Ryan was hitting .308 with four hits in 13 at-bats.

Grace Raynor is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
Read More: New York Yankees, Brendan Ryan