Yankees’ Ryan Weathers to IL with flexor strain but optimistic about returning this season

On Sunday, Yankees' starting pitcher Ryan Weathers was placed on the injured list due to a left forearm flexor strain. Despite the setback, Weathers remains optimistic that the injury will not prevent him from returning for the remainder of the season. The ailment appeared to be relatively minor, with Weathers describing it as a "very low grade" rather than a significant strain.

Medical imaging revealed that Weathers' UCL and elbow were in good condition. However, he had not yet met with Yankees head physician Dr. Chris Ahmad before speaking with the media. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Weathers would likely not throw for the next two to four weeks.

Weathers expressed relief at the prognosis, stating, "Big picture, obviously really good news. We’ll try to get this thing calmed down here and hopefully get him back in some capacity." He had previously experienced a more severe flexor strain during his time with the Miami Marlins. That injury delayed his season debut until May 14 of the previous year.

With five weeks remaining in the regular season, Boone suggested that Weathers could potentially return as a reliever to help the Yankees in their final push. The team had initially considered moving a starter — likely Weathers or Will Warren — to the bullpen once their rotation is fully healthy. Max Fried, the team's ace, had recently returned to the injured list with a bone bruise in his left elbow.

To fill the void left by Weathers' absence, the Yankees recalled right-handed pitcher Brendan Beck from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Beck, who had a solid season at Triple-A with a 9-2 record and a 2.75 ERA, could serve as a short-term solution for the Yankees' rotation. Another option, right-handed pitcher Elmer Rodríguez, has also shown promise, boasting a 1.69 ERA in three starts at Triple-A and a 2.59 ERA in 19 appearances overall.