The Yankees have managed to cope without him, but they’re surely glad to be bringing Luke Weaver back into the bullpen this weekend.
If everything goes smoothly with the bailouts on Thursday, then Weaver might be activated from the injured list as early as Friday, according to coach Aaron Boone.
It’s been less than three weeks since Weaver strained his hamstrings while stretching in the Dodger Stadium bullpen. Though the initial recovery timeline was set at 4-6 weeks, it seems he might be on the quicker side.
“I was maybe a little surprised,” Boone commented ahead of Thursday’s matinee against the Angels. “Things are looking good, so it’s all quite encouraging.”
When Weaver arrived in Illinois, he boasted an impressive 1.05 ERA and eight saves, which had previously allowed Devin Williams to reclaim his closer role after a tough stretch in late April. Since Weaver went down, Williams has converted all four save opportunities despite giving up four runs and striking out five over five appearances spanning 4 2/3 innings.
As for who will step in when Weaver returns, Boone seemed noncommittal. “We’ll spend some time with Luke and then have that discussion once he’s ready to come back,” he said.
Weaver’s return is expected to significantly strengthen the bullpen. Boone remarked, “I mean, Luke Weaver coming back is great, but it also creates a trickle-down effect, allowing us to slot guys into more effective roles. Adding someone like him certainly makes the whole team better.”
However, just as Weaver is set to return, the Yankees have placed Yerry de Los Santos on the injured list due to discomfort in his right elbow. The reliever, who threw 14 pitches the previous night, had difficulty stretching his elbow and underwent tests to determine the issue.
To fill the void in the bullpen, the Yankees have called up lefty Javian Sandridge, who was last seen in camp. He’s been with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he has struck out 13 batters in seven innings while posting a 1.29 ERA.
Boone noted, “He has big arms, and he was going to be on the roster regardless of what happened with Yerry. It’s clear we need him to step up.”
