Just nine days ago, news broke that Mets starter Noah Syndergaard had been placed on the disabled list with hand, foot and mouth disease. It was a bit jarring, because the disease generally only happens in children under five years ago. As I noted at the time, even on the Mayo Clinic website description, it reads like it's only possible to happen with children. And now MLB has a second case. Newly-acquired Yankees starter J.A. Happ has hand, foot and mouth disease. What in the world is going here? The Yankees have said publicly that Happ's case is a mild one and he should be good to go for his scheduled start Saturday against the Red Sox. Hand, foot and mouth disease causes symptoms like fever, sore throat, rashes and more. It's a short-term issue that should be cleared up pretty soon and, again, the Yankees say it's a mild case. Happ, 35, is 11-6 with a 4.05 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 120 innings this year. The Yankees got him from the Blue Jays last week. He's made one start with the Yankees and he only gave up one runs on three hits in six innings.<doc-sep>J.A. Happ’s Yankees debut couldn’t have gone much better Sunday. The 35-year-old lefty brought in from Toronto to stabilize their rotation shut down the Royals — and even though cellar-dwelling Kansas City is far from the toughest test, David Cone believes Happ is ready for whatever he faces in his new home. Cone has experience with entering a playoff race more than halfway through a season and is confident both Happ and the Yankees will benefit from the move. “When I came to the Yankees [in 1995], I was so ready for it,’’ said Cone, now a broadcaster for the YES Network. “I knew what I was up against. It’s a boost at this time of year, especially when you go from a team that doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere to one where they still have high expectations. It just gives you more life. Your concentration level goes up. The human element works in your favor when you enter a new environment and you’ve been around. And on the other side, it can be a huge lift to the team, when you fill a need like that.” One good outing against a bad team hardly qualifies the acquisition of Happ in exchange for Brandon Drury and minor league outfielder Billy McKinney as a good deal, but a similar performance in his next start, which will be in Boston, would go a long way to doing so. And Cone buys the Yankees’ theory that Happ’s experience pitching in the AL East — and success against the Red Sox — is vital. “There is something about the AL East,” Cone said of Happ, who along with lefty reliever Zach Britton, bolstered the Yankees’ staff when they arrived last week. “It’s not just the competition, it’s the ballparks. Whether it’s Yankee Stadium, Fenway [Park] or Camden [Yards in Baltimore], you can give up three or four home runs in one start and if you’re new to it, you think, ‘I can’t pitch here.’ He doesn’t have to worry about that.” Cone was 29 when he was traded in August 1992, from the Mets to the contending Blue Jays and helped pitch Toronto to its first World Series title. Three seasons later, he was shipped from Toronto to The Bronx and helped spark a late-season run that snapped the Yankees’ 14-year playoff drought. Both times, he said, he felt something change when he switched teams. “There’s an added element of, ‘You’re up against the clock,’” Cone said. “You’ve only got 12 starts, so every one of them is so important. There’s definitely a little added component of pressure. Being 35 and a veteran, Happ is ready for all those things.” That’s why Cone thinks Happ was the best option for the Yankees, who saw their pitching depth diminish with injuries to Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga and were looking for a more battle-tested arm. They still have until the non-waiver trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. to make more additions. “Happ and Cole Hamels were on par with each other,’’ Cone said of the southpaw who went from Texas to the Cubs. “Maybe Hamels has the better résumé, but Happ’s recent history is a little better. It’s conceivable with Happ, if he does well, the Yankees could sign him for another year.” Before that becomes a possibility, the Yankees and Happ have work to do if they want to catch Boston. For as well as Happ has done, he last pitched at Fenway on July 12 and gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings. None were earned, but he allowed a grand slam to Mookie Betts. The Yankees open a two-game series at the Stadium on Tuesday against the Orioles, who, despite being in disarray, have split their 10 games versus the Yankees this season. “To me, getting Happ was a trade you had to make,’’ Cone said. “He knows the challenge ahead of him and he’s not gonna shy away from it. We’ll see what happens.”<doc-sep>
BOSTON — J.A. Happ trying to improve on his good career numbers against the Red Sox will have to wait. The 35-year-old lefthander, acquired by the Yankees last week from the Blue Jays, was placed on the disabled list Thursday after contracting hand, foot and mouth disease. “Just in the last couple of days, some increase in some of the symptoms,” Aaron Boone said. “The blistering you get from this, it hasn’t died down yet, so he’s still in that viral stage of things.” Happ, 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in his career vs. Boston, which includes an 0.84 ERA in two starts against the Red Sox this season while with Toronto, was slated to start Saturday at Fenway. Boone said the Yankees had not made up their mind on who would start in Happ’s place. With righty Lance Lynn likely to take the demoted Sonny Gray’s spot in the rotation — Gray’s next turn would have been Monday in Chicago against the White Sox — righty Luis Cessa seemed likely to get the nod Saturday. But that possibility got wiped out after Cessa, who was recalled from the minors earlier in the day and will likely be optioned back Friday, allowed five runs over 3 2⁄3 innings in Thursday’s 15-7 loss. Afterward Boone said the club was discussing its options for Saturday but said whomever they go with, that pitcher isn’t on the current 25-man roster. Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield pitched on Thursday, taking him out of consideration, meaning a possible opportunity for another organizational prospect, Chance Adams. Lynn is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in five career starts against Boston, which include two games this season in which he allowed one earned run in 11 innings, but the righthander threw 4 1⁄3 scoreless innings in relief of Gray on Wednesday. Happ, who won his first start as a Yankee, was sent home Tuesday after being diagnosed with the virus. The Yankees were initially optimistic Happ would be able to pitch Saturday, but his condition didn’t improve enough. “He is feeling better . . . but wasn’t probably going to legitimately be able to be around our team until it completely runs its course and he’s not at that point yet,” Boone said.