If Ryan Weathers had made his regularly scheduled start Thursday, it would have been a lesser version — literally.
The Yankees lefty said he lost 9 pounds in two days due to an illness that caused him to “pretty much [throw] my guts up for several hours,” leading the club to scratch him from the series finale against the Rangers and insert Paul Blackburn instead.
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According to Weathers, he did not feel well during his most recent start — when he allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings in a win over the Orioles on Saturday — and returned home believing he had food poisoning.
The vomiting was rough. He then woke up Sunday with a fever of 102 degrees and spent the next few days in bed, he said.
He was not sure what he contracted — “something viral” — and it was gone by Tuesday, when he reported back to the team after a couple of days in which he did not have much food or liquids. He received an IV on Wednesday and went through a full workout and now will resume his routine.
He is expected to throw a side session Friday and likely will take the mound Monday for the beginning of a series in Baltimore.
“My arm feels really good,” Weathers said after the Yankees’ 6-1 loss to the Rangers in The Bronx on Wednesday. “It’s been weird. That’s what’s been frustrating — my body still feels strong, and my arm felt great. So it was one of the weirder sicknesses I’ve had.”
X-rays taken on José Caballero’s left elbow came back negative, and the shortstop believes he can play Thursday.
Caballero was plunked by a curveball in the third inning and appeared to be in plenty of pain but remained in the game.
“Just kind of got him in the right spot,” manager Aaron Boone said of Caballero, whose elbow had swollen up.
Yerry De los Santos’ reward for holding down the Rangers over 3 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and walked one while striking out five: getting sent back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre so the club can recall a different reliever in the morning.
Reinforcements are coming: Carlos Rodón is expected to slide back into his spot in the rotation Sunday, when the Yankees finish a series in Milwaukee, after completing a rehab assignment Tuesday.
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The Yankees demoted Elmer Rodríguez after Tuesday’s victory, and Rodón will join a group that consists of Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Weathers with Gerrit Cole due back in the next few weeks.
In three rehab starts, Rodón built up to 85 pitches and pitched to a 3.38 ERA with 16 strikeouts and three walks in 16 innings.
“Feel like he’s been throwing the ball well,” Boone said of Rodón, who was charged with six earned runs in 6 ¹/₃ innings with SWB in his final tuneup. “He’s starting to command his stuff well. Feel like he’s ready.”
Rodón expanded his arsenal and became a five-pitch pitcher during an All-Star season in 2025. He used all of those pitches Tuesday, when his velocity was a tick down from last season (his four-seamer averaged 93.3 mph), but he will certainly feel more energy and adrenaline on a big-league mound.
“We feel like he’s ready to go,” Boone said of Rodón, who will make his return from offseason elbow surgery to remove bone chips.
Cole will need “at least a couple more” rehab outings before he is deemed ready, Boone said.
The Yankees have been more careful with the ace, who is building up slowly from Tommy John surgery. Cole has made four rehab starts so far, on Tuesday allowing five runs on seven hits and no walks in 4 ¹/₃ innings with High-A Hudson Valley.
“He is filling up the strike zone, popping some 98-99s [mph],” Boone said. “Think there was a lot of good [Tuesday]. He got whacked a couple times, which is not a bad thing. He’s working on different things I think each time out.
Ben Rice was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game after suffering a left hand contusion Sunday.
Boone said he hoped Rice would be available off the bench, but Rice was not used. At this point, Boone said he did not believe Rice would require an IL stint.
Paul Goldschmidt started at first base and went 0-for-3.
Boone did not think Giancarlo Stanton would begin running Wednesday.
Stanton, who is eligible to be activated from the IL, has not begun a running routine after suffering what the club called a low-grade right calf strain.
Before the game, Fried was awarded his fourth Gold Glove and first as a Yankee.
Ana Gold, who was the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Softball League rookie of the year, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
