Before Sunday’s game, the Yankees announced a pair of notable roster moves affecting their pitching staff. Left-handed starter Ryan Weathers exited Saturday’s game after just 3 1/3 innings, leaving with an apparent issue after delivering a 78 mph sweeping pitch that aggravated him. He did not complete his warm-up tosses and headed for imaging, subsequently landing on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm flexor strain. Right-hander Brendan Beck was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the vacancy.
The team communicated the roster change through their official channels on Sunday morning.
Ryan Weathers’ substantial workload had already pushed him to the edge of durability. He entered Saturday’s start with a career-high 137 1/3 innings pitched this season, surpassing his previous combined workload in the majors and minors. Weathers had emerged as a dependable member of the rotation, posting a 1.94 ERA over seven starts before Saturday, according to MLB.com. In his abbreviated outing, he allowed two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks over 3 1/3 innings, dropping his record to 5-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 25 starts.
“I think he’s been incredible for us all year. We’re hoping for good news and that he doesn’t miss any time,” catcher Austin Wells commented, quoted by MLB.com.
Weathers was acquired from the Miami Marlins in the winter, a move that paired high expectations with a history of limited innings in a given season. A flexor strain introduces a wide range of possible recovery timelines, and no specific return date has been provided.
Brendan Beck will take the ball in the bullpen-to-rotation shuffle. Beck, 27, has experience bouncing between the majors and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He previously appeared for the Yankees this season, debuting as a bulk reliever on May 7 against the Texas Rangers and starting a spot game against the Minnesota Twins on July 4. Those outings didn’t go smoothly, leaving Beck with a career 9.45 ERA over 6 2/3 innings at the big-league level. His Triple-A numbers, however, are solid, posting a 2.75 ERA with 133 strikeouts over 121 innings across 22 starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year. Beck is the younger brother of Tristan Beck, who pitches for the San Francisco Giants.
On the opposing side, the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup featured a balanced set of contributors. The initial lineup included Brett Bateman in right field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, Alejandro Kirk catching, George Springer as the designated hitter, Kazuma Okamoto at third, Ernie Clement at short, Daz Cameron in left, Charles McAdoo at second, and Myles Straw in center field.
For Toronto, José Soriano was the scheduled starter, carrying a 10-6 record with a 3.23 ERA. The Jays’ lineup boasted Bateman (.321) in right, Guerrero Jr. at first (.264), Kirk (.283) behind the plate, Springer (.240) as DH, Okamoto (.230) at third, Clement (.286) at short, Cameron (.308) in left, McAdoo (.262) at second, and Straw (.213) in center, with Okamoto providing a strong slugging presence (.438).
Ryan Weathers’ injury history has raised questions about durability, especially given his workload this season. He had previously reached a career-high in innings and dealt with forearm concerns, with a broader context of past injuries affecting his availability. The Yankees now rely on Beck, who has shown potential in the organization and could provide a steady option while Weathers recovers.
As the series moves toward its finale, both teams will look to extract an advantage from their respective rotations. Rodón will be tasked with steadying the rotation for New York, while Beck will aim to stabilize the mound and keep the Yankees competitive in a tight game plan. The outcome will help determine who secures the series before the finale.
