NEW YORK — Ryan Weathers had pitched through discomfort before. But what came after his last start was something else entirely.
The Yankees left-hander walked off the mound following a five-inning effort against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday feeling off. He drove home thinking it was food poisoning. By Sunday morning, he had a 102-degree fever and could barely get out of bed. Over the next two days, Weathers lost nine pounds. He barely ate. He took in almost no fluids.
On Wednesday, he needed an IV just to get back on his feet. By Thursday, he was watching someone else take his roster spot.
Blackburn steps in as Weathers sits out
The Yankees scratched Weathers from his scheduled start Thursday against the Texas Rangers and named right-hander Paul Blackburn as his replacement. It marks Blackburn’s first start of the 2026 season and his first start overall since he appeared in four games for the New York Mets last June.
Blackburn, 32, has been pitching in relief for the Yankees this season, posting a 3.21 ERA across nine appearances covering 14 innings. Thursday’s game against Texas gives him a chance to show the club what he can do from the top of an inning with a full slate ahead of him.
Paul Blackburn will start tomorrow's game in place of Ryan Weathers, who said he dealt with a viral illness after his most recent start vs. Baltimore.
“I pitched, then went home and pretty much threw my guts out for several hours,” Weathers said. “I thought I just had food…
For the Yankees, the move was straightforward. Throwing a pitcher who shed nine pounds in 48 hours and needed intravenous fluids to recover was not a risk worth taking, regardless of how good Weathers said his arm felt. Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the call to protect his starter.
Weathers describes a virus that flattened him
Weathers spoke openly with reporters before Thursday’s game, walking through a timeline that started with nausea after his Orioles start and escalated fast. The conversation mattered because his early departure from the rotation raised questions about how serious the illness was and when he would be back.
“I pitched, then went home and pretty much threw my guts out for several hours,” Weathers said. “I thought I just had food poisoning, but woke up the next day and was running a 102 [degree] temp. I was just pretty much bedridden for a couple of days.”
Ryan Weathers says he lost 9 pounds in 2 days after falling ill after his last outing vs. the Orioles pic.twitter.com/D9qZU2K5l4
He was not sure of the exact cause, describing it as something viral that had already passed by Tuesday. Still, the physical toll was real. Weathers reported back to the club Wednesday, received the IV and went through a full workout to test where his body was. The arm passed. The decision to sit him Thursday was purely about protecting his health.
Weathers was candid about the frustration of watching from the sideline when his mechanics felt sharp. Explaining what made the illness feel stranger than most, he addressed reporters after the Yankees’ 6-1 loss Wednesday.
“My arm feels really good,” Weathers said. “It’s been weird. That’s what’s been frustrating, my body still feels strong, and my arm felt great. So it was one of the weirder sicknesses I’ve had.”
Weathers’ place in the rotation stays secure
The Yankees are not moving on from Weathers. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed he will slot back into the rotation and is expected to start Monday when New York opens a series in Baltimore. A side session is planned for Friday to keep his arm sharp.
Weathers, 27, has been one of the Yankees’ better pitching stories this season. Acquired from the Miami Marlins over the winter, he entered Thursday’s game with a 3.03 ERA across 38 2/3 innings in seven starts. The Yankees rotation as a whole ranks second in the majors with a 2.98 ERA through Wednesday.
The pitching staff is also about to grow. Carlos Rodon is slated to make his season debut Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Gerrit Cole is expected to rejoin the club later this month. The Yankees have managed without both starters, but their returns will deepen a rotation that is already performing near the top of the league.
Context: a rough week on the mound in the Bronx
Thursday’s lineup change came one night after the Yankees dropped a 6-1 decision to the Rangers. Will Warren absorbed the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in four innings. Nathan Eovaldi dominated from the other side, going eight innings while holding the Yankees to one run and three hits.
Blackburn’s outing against Texas on Thursday offered a reset. The Yankees entered the game at 25-11 with the best record in the American League. Losing Weathers for one turn in the rotation is a short-term adjustment. Getting him back healthy for a Baltimore start is the priority.
The Yankees are not panicking. They have the depth to absorb a bump like this. But the roster move is a reminder that even the best Yankees teams deal with the unexpected, and the margin between a healthy rotation and a scrambled one can shrink fast.
