Scott Effross returns to Yankees after Leiter Jr. placed on paternity list

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The New York Yankees have begun their push towards the postseason, making strategic roster adjustments with just four regular-season games remaining. On Thursday morning, the Yankees placed Mark Leiter Jr., acquired at the trade deadline, on the paternity list as he awaits the birth of his child. To cover his absence, the team promoted reliever Scott Effross.

Effross making postseason push after lengthy recovery

Scott Effross, who was traded to the Yankees in 2022 from the Cubs, missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. This year, he has only thrown two innings as he continues his recovery, posting a rough 9.00 ERA in that short span. However, this promotion gives him an opportunity to prove himself ahead of the postseason. Should he perform well in the coming days, Effross could make a case for inclusion on the Yankees’ playoff roster, though that remains uncertain.

Mark Leiter Jr., 33, has had a mixed tenure with the Yankees so far. He currently holds a 4.58 ERA on the season, but his performance with New York has been shakier, with a 5.23 ERA across 20.2 innings. Despite these struggles, Leiter has recently turned a corner. In his last three outings, he hasn’t allowed an earned run and has only given up one hit. This improvement is a stark contrast to his earlier form, where he surrendered at least one earned run in five of his previous six appearances, including four runs over four starts.

Leiter’s appeal lies in his strikeout capabilities, which played a big part in the Yankees acquiring him. He boasts a career-high 13.11 strikeouts per nine innings, ranking in the upper percentiles for both whiff rate and chase rate. However, his tendency to give up home runs has been a concern, as he’s allowing 1.26 home runs per nine innings this season—an issue that’s been exacerbated since joining the Yankees, where that figure has risen to 2.61.

A key adjustment Leiter has made recently is a shift in his pitch selection, reducing his reliance on the sinker and opting more for his split-finger fastball. This pitch has been especially effective, holding opposing batters to a .092 batting average and a .133 slugging percentage. With the success of this pitch, it’s likely Leiter will continue to lean on it in the final days of the season.

Leiter is expected to return shortly from the paternity list, and when he does, the Yankees will count on him to continue his recent positive form as they prepare for the postseason. As for Effross, he’ll have a limited window to show he can still be a contributor after a lengthy recovery, and his performance could influence whether he earns a spot on the Yankees’ playoff roster.

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