The Yankees avoided the sweep against the defending champion Dodgers in the weekend’s anticipated World Series rematch, but they may have lost multiple key pieces in the process.
Holding a 7-3 lead late in the ninth, Aaron Boone went to lefty Tim Hill instead of closer Luke Weaver, and the manager revealed after Hill closed out the win that Weaver felt something in his hamstring as he began stretching to prepare to enter the game.
“Hoping it’s not too serious,” Boone said. “But he felt it when he was stretching.”
Additionally, Jasson Dominguez was pulled from the game after suffering a thumb contusion when sliding into second base while recording a stolen base in the fifth inning. Dominguez didn’t express much concern about it after the game, but it was obviously enough to be removed.
The Yankees are getting bullpen help back with Jonathan Loaisiga back in the fold and Fernando Cruz nearing a return, but Weaver is a massive part of the team’s relief staff, pitching to a 1.05 ERA in 25.2 innings of work. He has been the team’s most reliable reliever since taking the closer role from Clay Holmes last season.
Weaver, Dominguez, and the Yankees have Monday off before returning to the Bronx for a three-game set against Cleveland.