After a doubleheader where all but Carvin Castro took the mound, the Yankees found themselves in need of more from Ryan Weathers, who managed just 4.1 innings on Monday.
Despite facing challenges during the second and third innings, Weathers pushed through, recording 14 outs and ultimately helping secure a win that could have gone south quickly. He lost a one-run lead but held onto the next, improving as the game progressed and fixing his earlier pitch-tipping issues, leading to an 8-5 victory over the Pirates at home.
“I thrive on being on the road when things get tough. Even in challenging moments, it’s about giving your all and keeping the team in the game,” coach Aaron Boone noted.
Weathers initially struggled, allowing five runs in the second and third innings but eventually found his rhythm.
In the second inning, the Pirates started strong with three consecutive hits, culminating in an RBI double from Jared Toriolo, who, from his second-base position, seemed to be signaling hitters when a changeup would come.
“We made adjustments during the game,” Weathers remarked. “I threw a fastball, and everything lined up.”
Yet, his troubles persisted with another run scoring that inning and a two-run homer by rookie Esmerlin Valdez in the third. Weathers acknowledged that he struggled with a slider that led to the home run and suggested he should have made an earlier exit.
However, Jazz Chisholm Jr. contributed with his second home run of the night, extending the Yankees’ lead to four runs. Weathers allowed just one hit in the fourth and a walk in the fifth before exiting with two outs, as Angel Chivili managed to navigate a challenging situation.
“It wasn’t the best outing for him; he faced some hits early on when we were still warming up in the pen, but I admire his ability to stick it out,” Boone said.
As for Giancarlo Stanton, there’s still no updates on his return or rehabilitation. Boone mentioned, “I know he’s making good progress with his running,” but no timelines were provided.
Details about Stanton remain scarce. Boone suggested he’s “moving harder and hitting harder again,” referencing his earlier injury from late June.
With Aaron Judge now out indefinitely, the pressure is on, as the Yankees are missing both sluggers. Stanton only appeared in 24 games this season, with a .724 OPS and three home runs to his record.
The Yankees have successfully signed all 20 of their draft picks. Among the first two selections were Hunter Dietz from Arkansas and Canadian high school pitcher Sean Duncan, both lefties, while five additional right-handed pitchers round out their picks. They also introduced Luke Pettitte—a two-way player who closes as a right-handed pitcher and first baseman; interestingly, he’s the son of former player Andy Pettitte.
Additionally, Pittsburgh’s backup catcher, Rafael Flores, who was signed by the Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 2022, has had a promising run since being traded to the Pirates. He made his debut in June and returned earlier this month with a strong showing.
“I really liked Rafa,” Boone reflected. “We even took him camping back in 2025. He was a great kid, loved the game, and was genuinely fun to be around before the trade.”
