Ivan Nova injury: A big blow to the Yankees' rotation despite early struggles

Ivan Nova has officially been placed on the DL with a partially torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament. While we wait to hear if he's going to have Tommy John surgery, or try to rehab it, Nova is almost certainly going to be out for an extended amount of time.

It is hard to interpret this news as anything other than a pretty big blow to the rotation. On the one hand, Nova had not been pitching that great, putting up an 8.27 ERA, .371 BABIP, and 1.84 WHIP through 20.2 innings pitched. On the other hand, the season just started. Nova's 2013 did not get off to the best start, but he definitely turned it around in the second half of the season. In other words, this injury is really unfortunate. This season is starting to feel like last season in terms of injuries piling up, and there are so many players getting Tommy John surgery this season.

This also means that the Yankees likely need someone to take his place in the rotation for the duration of the season (which is almost the full season). If they look in-house, there don't really seem to be a lot of options. Sure, the competition for Pineda's spot had originally involved David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno. Maybe one of those guys can take Nova's spot, but Warren has looked decent as a late inning reliever, and Phelps has been all over the place. Nuno is pitching today, and it could very well be his audition for Nova's spot.

Are you surprised to hear that it's his UCL, or were you prepared to hear the worst after he was pulled from last night's game? Do you think one of Phelps, Warren or Nuno will take his rotation spot or someone else altogether?