The NY Yankees have placed closing pitcher Luke Weaver on the injured list (IL) with a hamstring injury, and will potentially miss four to six weeks.
Weaver, 31, suffered the injury over the weekend during the Yankees’ three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The closer stopped after warming up to pitch the ninth inning of New York’s 7-3 win on Sunday due to hamstring discomfort, after throwing 14 pitches in one inning during their 18-2 loss.
New York manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the game that Weaver would undergo testing, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the right-hander underwent an MRI. Per the report, the official timetable of Weaver’s absence will be determined on Tuesday.
Weaver has excelled this season, going 1-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 0.701 WHIP in 24 games spanning 25 2/3 innings. He took over for two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams in late April, who will likely return to the spot in Weaver’s absence. In addition, right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz, 35, is expected to take Weaver’s roster spot; in 21 relief appearances this season, Cruz is 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 2/3 innings. He last pitched for New York on May 17 before landing on the IL due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
The Yankees currently lead the American League East by 5 1/2 games, and opened a three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday..
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