Ryan Weathers Exits Yankees' 4-3 Loss With Left Forearm Discomfort

Ryan Weathers left his 26th start of the season during the fourth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays after throwing a 78 mph sweeper.

New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers exited Saturday’s 4-3 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning. The 26-year-old starter departed the contest with one out and runners on first and second after throwing his 72nd pitch, a 78 mph sweeper to Myles Straw that resulted in a 1-1 count. Weathers, who was making his 26th start of the season, roamed the mound in visible pain before manager Aaron Boone and a team trainer conducted a brief discussion that led to his removal. Following his exit, the pitcher left Yankee Stadium to undergo imaging to determine the severity of the left forearm discomfort.

Prior to his departure, Weathers had lowered his ERA from 4.25 to 3.56 over a five-start stretch where he logged at least 5⅔ innings and allowed no more than one run per outing. This recent success coincided with a reduction in the usage of his four-seam fastball. Catcher Austin Wells noted that while Weathers stepped off the mound to reset a few pitches before the injury, his stuff remained sharp through his final delivery. The southpaw has already reached a career-high 137⅓ innings pitched this year, surpassing his previous mark of 126⅔ innings set in 2022 during his tenure with the San Diego Padres and their Triple-A affiliate.

Impact on the Yankees Starting Rotation

The potential loss of Weathers adds to a growing list of injuries for a New York rotation that currently leads the majors with a 3.36 ERA. Right-hander Gerrit Cole did not debut until May 22 this season following last year's Tommy John surgery, while Carlos Rodon missed the first six weeks of the campaign after October elbow surgery. Rodon returned from the injured list just last week after a month-long absence due to elbow inflammation. Meanwhile, Luis Gil recently made his first relief appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, tossing two scoreless innings after missing nearly four months with shoulder inflammation.

Max Fried remains on the injured list with a recurring bone bruise in his left elbow, an ailment that previously sidelined him for over two months. Despite the setback, Fried threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice early next week. Clarke Schmidt is also currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, though he is working toward a return as a reliever. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Schmidt's role could still change as he nears a return to the active roster.

Extensive New York Injured List

Weathers joins a significant group of Yankees players currently sidelined by various medical issues. The roster currently lacks outfielder Aaron Judge, who is dealing with a rib injury, and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who is out with a calf strain. Third baseman Ryan McMahon is sidelined with a thumb injury, and the pitching staff is further thinned by the absences of Fried and Schmidt due to their respective elbow conditions. Outfielder Cody Bellinger is the only player nearing an immediate return, with the club expecting him back from a hamstring injury on Sunday.

Acquired from the Miami Marlins during the offseason, Weathers had not reported any arm issues to the coaching staff prior to Saturday's game. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. referred to the group of sidelined players as a "great" IL team, highlighting the depth of talent currently unavailable. The Yankees remain within striking distance of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East despite these roster challenges and an offense that has struggled for over two months without Judge. Boone emphasized that the team will need another player to step up to fill the void if Weathers faces an extended absence.