The New York Yankees announced earlier this week that reliever Jake Cousins has been placed on the injured list due to a right pectoral strain, effectively ending his regular season. However, after consulting with Dr. Christopher Ahmad, imaging revealed no significant muscle damage. Cousins is now targeting a potential return on October 5th, the date of Game 1 of the American League Division Series (ALDS), where the Yankees are almost certain to play, given their six-game lead in the AL East.
Cousins’ injury wasn’t surprising, as he had been pulled from a game against the Mariners after experiencing right pectoral tightness, with his fastball velocity dipping to 92 MPH, below his usual 94-96 MPH range. Cousins had been pitching through the tightness, but his September struggles, including a 4.50 ERA and a high walk rate of 27.6%, suggested he wasn’t fully recovering between outings.
Despite his recent difficulties, Cousins has been a key addition to the Yankees’ bullpen, posting a 2.37 ERA and becoming one of Aaron Boone’s trusted arms since being acquired from the White Sox for cash considerations. His return for the ALDS would further strengthen an already formidable bullpen that includes Luke Weaver, Tommy Kahnle, Tim Hill, and Ian Hamilton, all of whom have been performing well. Additionally, the Yankees may move some starters, such as Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, and Nestor Cortes, into bullpen roles for the postseason.
The Yankees are set to play the Orioles tonight, with Schmidt taking the mound as they aim to clinch the AL East and move closer to securing the top seed in the American League.
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