Yankees' Chad Green done for season with right elbow injury

BALTIMORE -- New York Yankees rookie starter Chad Green is out for the rest of the season with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and a strained tendon in his right elbow.

Green will go for further tests, but at the moment he believes he may avoid Tommy John surgery.

"From what I know now, it is not worst case," Green said.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi does not yet know whom will take Green's spot in the rotation. The candidates to start next Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays are reliever Luis Severino and Triple-A starter Bryan Mitchell.

Girardi is going to see if he uses Severino out of the bullpen the next few days before making a decision.

"We are going to play it by ear," Girardi said. Green becomes the second Yankees starter to have his season finished by an elbow injury.

Nathan Eovaldi went down last month and is expected to miss all of next season as he required two surgeries, including Tommy John.

Green is hoping to avoid a similar fate, but it is not fully clear yet if he will be able to because of the nature of the elbow injury.

"Whenever you hear that, you are concerned," Girardi said.

Green, 25, was 2-4 with a 4.73 ERA in 12 games, including eight starts. He was acquired by the Yankees, along with fellow rookie starter, Luis Cessa, for reliever Justin Wilson last winter.