Yankees bullpen gets into playoff shape, Cousins on track to rejoin

Monday September 30, 2024

The Yankees’ bullpen won the game during Sunday’s 6-4 win over the Pirates. After Clarke Schmidt surrendered four earned runs in four innings, the relievers held on their own allowing the offense to maintain the slim lead.

Mark Leiter Jr., who returned from the paternity list, gave up a double. But Luke Weaver, who hadn’t pitched in a week, took the mound in the final game, delivering a scoreless eighth inning. Clay Holmes followed with a clean ninth inning to earn his 30th save of the season, his first since losing the closer role in late August.

Before the win, the Yankees bullpen got some good news. Reliever Jake Cousins is making steady progress in his recovery and could be ready for the ALDS, contingent on completing two key steps this week.

Cousins, sidelined with a right pectoral strain, is scheduled for a bullpen session Tuesday, followed by a live batting practice against hitters on Thursday. If both go smoothly, he could be activated from the injured list ahead of Saturday’s Game 1.

The standout reliever for the Yankees shared confidence in his recovery, noting positive results from throwing sessions on Friday and Saturday. After taking Sunday off, he plans to throw again Monday and make his first appearance on the mound since leaving a game in Seattle on September 19 after just six pitches due to tightness.

Cousins’ return would strengthen the Yankees‘ bullpen for the postseason. The team has adopted a closer-by-committee approach, with Luke Weaver handling most late-game situations. Cousins’ ability to generate strikeouts under pressure makes him a key part of that strategy.

Yankees rest Judge, try out bench strength

Yankees captain Aaron Judge has now gone without a home run for 70 plate appearances, the longest in his career. — Yankees/ Instagram

Aaron Judge’s stellar regular season ended without a final appearance, as he was pulled from the Yankees’ lineup Sunday due to poor weather conditions. The likely American League MVP wrapped up his campaign with a .322 batting average, 58 home runs, and 144 RBIs.

Judge narrowly missed the Triple Crown, finishing just behind Bobby Witt Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in batting average, who hit .332 and .323, respectively.

His season was historic in many respects. Judge’s 1.159 OPS and .701 slugging percentage are the highest in a 162-game season since Barry Bonds’ 2004 campaign, when Bonds posted an OPS of 1.422 and a .812 slugging percentage.

Trent Grisham celebrated in the dugout during the Yankees' win on Sept. 29. — Yankees

Trent Grisham stepped in for Judge at the last minute and made his third start of the year count, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an RBI single, raising his season totals to 34 hits and 9 home runs.

Scott Effross was sent to Triple-A to make room for Ben Rice. Effross won’t be eligible for the ALDS roster unless he’s needed as an injury replacement.

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