Weathers Faces Rotation Uncertainty Amid Rehab News

Ryan Weathers might find himself out of the starting rotation this month, especially with Carlos Rodon starting another rehab stint. But he’s not planning to make any hasty decisions.

In Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Seattle, the left-handed pitcher had a solid showing, going 5⅓ innings while giving up just a single run. That run came from a solo home run by Randy Arozarena in the sixth inning. At that time, the Yankees’ struggling offense had yet to score, which, let’s be honest, is becoming almost routine in the Bronx.

Thanks to Weathers’ performance, however, the Yankees finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs against the Mariners. Prior to this game, Weathers had an impressive streak, allowing only one run in 18⅓ innings across his last three starts. It’s worth noting the Mariners are facing their own scoring struggles, much like the Yankees.

After the game, Weathers stated, “I’m in this organization to win ballgames at this level. I think I’m a valuable asset in any role, whatever that means. That’s what I want.” He seems keen on proving himself to manager Aaron Boone and making sure he stays relevant, even if he has to shift roles.

Interestingly, despite his recent success, some analysts believed Weathers might fit better in the bullpen compared to right-hander Will Warren. Yet, pitching coach Matt Blake mentioned that they haven’t finalized how the rotation will look once Rodon returns from his elbow issues. There’s a bit of ambiguity there.

Weathers has been carrying a heavier workload this season than he has in all his previous major league years combined. Previously, he hadn’t exceeded 18 starts or pitched over 94 innings. This year alone, he’s already pitched 136⅔ innings between the majors and minors, and after Tuesday’s outing, he reached 126 innings in 23 starts.

“I feel great,” Weathers remarked. “My arms are really good.” Yet, he seems open to exploring a future role in the bullpen. “Who knows what I can do in the bullpen? You don’t have short bursts and don’t set up hitters. You just throw your pitches and aim for three outs,” he said. It sounds like he’s ready to adapt, which is sort of refreshing.

Weathers managed to pitch 22⅔ consecutive scoreless innings before Arozarena disrupted that streak, but he also ended a run of 11 consecutive batters retired. His success has come from mixing his pitches, utilizing fewer fastballs and sweepers while leaning more on sinkers and sliders, which has resulted in fewer home runs against him.

Aaron Boone seems pleased, stating, “He has a good understanding of who he is and what he needs to do. He’s executing at a high level right now.” But with Rodon’s return looming, it’ll be interesting to see how the team navigates this situation moving forward.