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The Yankees bullpen took another hit Monday. Scott Effross, who had begun to establish himself as an end-of-the game option for the Yankees, was placed on the injured list with a “minor” strain of his right shoulder.
“So Scott is going on the IL. He’s got a small strain. Hopefully get him back in a few weeks here,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’ll see the doctor tonight but likely to ‘no throw,’ for a week or 10 days and then get them going again. So hopefully not something too serious.”
The Yankees recalled Clarke Schmidt from Triple-A to fill the bullpen spot.
He’s already made 16 appearances, one start, and pitched to a 2.40 ERA, allowing eight earned runs in 30.1 innings pitched with 29 strikeouts in the big leagues this season. With 40 games left in the regular season and Luis Severino expected back in the middle of next month, it’s becoming less and less likely they would need Schmidt in the rotation.
“Obviously I know there’s some need in the bullpen right now with some guys going down. So I would think maybe that more than anything else,” Schmidt said of where he will be used. “But it’s kind of just wait and see.”
And maybe the Yankees saw another late-game option on Sunday.
Lou Trivino came in with the bases loaded in a 2-1 game and cleaned up a mess on Sunday and then ended up giving them 2.1 solid innings.
“Well, I mean, I know what it’s like to go out there and leave bases loaded and not only am I trying to pick up the team but I am trying to pick up my fellow bullpen pitchers,” Trivino said. “But it’s one of those things you just try and try and be as aggressive as you can in the zone and hopefully get weak contact or swinging misses.”
The right-hander, whom the Bombers acquired with Frankie Montas in a deadline deal with the A’s, had a rough start with Oakland this season, but is using his slider and cutter more since coming to the Yankees and seeing more success.
Even if Effross’ shoulder proves to be fine, Trivino could play a bigger role in the bullpen and be a factor down the stretch. It could help spread the workload among relievers when Holmes comes back too.
“I’m up for anything. Honestly, whatever I can do to help this team win,” Trivino said. “I’ll do whatever they want.”
The Yankees are also expecting Clay Holmes back as soon as he is eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 29 for the series opener in Anaheim. The big right hander, who was dealing with a lower back issue, said he felt good after throwing 15 pitches off the mound Sunday and plans to throw a bullpen again on Tuesday.
But right now, the Yankees have to mix and match the end of games.
In eight appearances since the Yankees acquired him from the Cubs at the trade deadline, Effross has allowed four runs, three earned, for a 3.24 ERA.
Effross had quickly earned Boone and the Yankees trust. Boone turned to him — with Clay Holmes seemingly available but struggling — to close out the only win the Yankees got in Boston. He was in there for 1.1 innings in the only game the Bombers won against the Rays.
In eight appearances since the Yankees acquired him from the Cubs at the trade deadline, Effross has allowed four runs, three earned, for a 3.24 ERA.
“I think one of the good things and I’m optimistic that we get Scott back in the next few weeks, so, you know, we feel like that’s going to happen. I think there are a lot of good things happening down with our bullpen with the way a handful of those guys are throwing,” Boone said. “But, you know, that’s something that we need to sort out and kind of declare, and hopefully it is something that will declare itself here kind of over the next several weeks where guys can start to grab on to, you know, some roles. And we can get a little more defined, as we unfold over here over the next few weeks again.”
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