Yankees lose reliever Loáisiga (arm) to 60-day IL

NEW YORK — The Yankees placed reliever Jonathan Loáisiga on the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain before their home opener Friday.

It is a major blow for a bullpen with the fourth-lowest ERA (1.27) in the majors through the first week of the season. Loáisiga, 29, pitched in three of the Yankees’ first seven games and logged four scoreless innings, striking out three batters and issuing one walk.

The hard-throwing right-hander also dealt with arm trouble last season, appearing in just 17 games because of elbow inflammation and bone spurs in his elbow. He also missed time in 2022 with shoulder inflammation.

Right-hander Dennis Santana was called up to take Loáisiga’s place on the roster. Santana, 27, broke into the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018. He appeared in nine games for the New York Mets last season, posting a 5.91 ERA across 10⅔ innings.