OAKLAND, Calif. — Jake Cousins' pectoral muscle injury has gone from a “multiday issue” to a trip to the 15-day disabled list.
The Yankees placed Cousins on the disabled list on Sunday with a right pectoral muscle injury and recalled Clayton Beater to the bullpen to fill the gap.
Cousins, who has emerged as a key high-leverage pitcher in the Yankees' late-inning defense, will be sidelined for at least the remainder of the regular season but is expected to return for the playoffs.
“Our hope is that it's a mild case over the course of a few days and that he starts to recover in time for the playoffs next week,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday morning before the series finale against the Athletics at the Coliseum. “I didn't want to get into a situation where he went out on Tuesday not feeling great and then had to go on the injured list and then be in a tight spot time-wise. So we'll see how it goes.”
The 30-year-old Cousins is scheduled to be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Monday, but Boone is hopeful the right-hander could return to the mound as soon as next week.
If the Yankees win the AL East, their first playoff game (the AL Division Series) won't be played until October 5th.
Cousins last pitched Thursday at Seattle, throwing just six pitches before leaving the mound with a trainer.
He said he'd been suffering from a tight pectoral muscle for a few days, but felt enough of an improvement that it was worth a try.
