The Yankees revealed on Thursday that reliever Luke Weaver was in position to be activated from the 15-day injured list as soon as Friday, and sure enough, they put that plan into action at the anticipated time.
After missing two-plus weeks with a left hamstring strain, the Yankees reinstated Weaver on Friday afternoon, marking a speedy recovery for an ailment that initially carried a month-plus timetable. The right-hander will be back in the bullpen while the team hosts the Orioles for a weekend set.
Advertisement
When asked about the closer role before Friday’s game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters the job will belong to Weaver “on some nights.” He’ll be sharing ninth-inning opportunities with Devin Williams, who’s resembled his old, All-Star self of late with a laudable 1.88 ERA in last 15 games.
How long the Yankees will go with the closer-by-committee approach with Weaver and Williams remains to be seen. In the meantime, Boone said the plan is for Weaver to avoid back-to-back games while ramping up to his regular workload. Matchups will determine their appearances, too.
“I look at him and Devin like we’ve got two elite guys back there,” Boone said. “With Devin, you’re always pretty much going to keep him to an inning. With Weave, he’s kind of that fireman… On the nights when they’re both available and we’re in the eighth inning with a save situation, I’ll probably match it up with how I think they line up best…”
Weaver has been an invaluable back-end arm for the Yankees. This season, he’s registered a sharp 1.05 ERA and 0.70 WHIP across 25.2 innings (24 appearances) with 24 strikeouts and eight saves. He’s also held opponents to a career-low .128 average.
Advertisement
But Williams’ reliability in high-leverage spots while Weaver was on the shelf can’t be ignored either. After a disastrous spring, in which he posted a 6.53 ERA and lost closer duties, he’s bounced back with a 1.35 ERA in seven June appearances. He’s also converted four saves and struck out 10.
“This has been over a month of some excellence. He’s going to close a lot of games,” Boone said of Williams. “That’s the reality. I want to put him, Weave, the rest of the guys in the best position to be successful. So, that’ll mean Devin closing a lot of games. But there will be those given nights where I use him in the eighth.”
Earlier in the week, Boone indicated a rehab assignment wasn’t even necessary for Weaver. The 31-year-old veteran faced hitters in live batting practice on Tuesday for the first time since injuring his hamstring, and Boone described the session as “excellent.”
“Any time you add someone like Luke, it just makes the entire thing better, on top of what he brings,” Boone said before Thursday’s win. “Maybe a little [surprised by the recovery], just based on the initial readings. But that being said, I know he felt good right away.
Advertisement
“Even the few days after, he got the PRP in there, I knew based on his throwing program right away. His ability to get right back on the mound was big. He was throwing a side, however many days in, had a few sides, the live. Looks really good, so it’s all been encouraging.”
While the Yankees are welcoming Weaver back with open arms, their bullpen hasn’t been helpless without him. The unit owns a 2.63 ERA since June 3, the day Weaver was placed on the injured list. It’s the seventh-best mark in all of baseball.
