New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver was warming up in the bullpen during the top of the ninth inning of Sunday night’s 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, seemingly available to come in to shut the door on the defending champs despite the healthy four-run lead.
And then, out of nowhere, he wasn’t.
After a few warmup tosses, the righty felt something in his hamstring while stretching, and his night was over before it even began. Instead, manager Aaron Boone turned to Tim Hill to close the door on the Dodgers, which helped the Yankees avoid the sweep.
“We had to make a switch on the fly there,” Boone said. “We’re hoping [Weaver’s hamstring] is not too serious, but he felt it when he was stretching. It was enough to take him out. I was going to go with him four runs [up] there.”
Weaver was unavailable following the game, nor did the Yankees disclose which hamstring was ailing him.
Both he and outfielder Jasson Dominguez, who left Sunday’s game early with a left thumb contusion, would be evaluated on Monday after returning to New York.
While there is not an abundance of concern with Dominguez, Weaver’s issue does provide some significant unease.
The 31-year-old replaced the struggling Devin Williams in the closer’s role last month and has converted eight of nine save opportunities. In 24 outings, he has allowed just three runs across 25.2 innings — good for a minuscule ERA of 1.05.
Should he miss significant time, Boone would have to turn back to Williams, who is 2-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his first season in the Bronx after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers.
As closer to start the season, he allowed 10 runs in nine innings with four saves.
