Projecting Yankees' best Red Sox series rotation shuffle after Ryan Weathers injury update

The Yankees getting 137 very strong innings out of Ryan Weathers this season, with the lefty adjusting and improving as the campaign progressed, represents a very strong return on their investment. But the Yankees losing Weathers just as he's peaking — and just before a crucial four-game Red Sox series that could determine home field and more — is terrible news.

And the Yankees relying on Weathers to fill critical October bullpen innings, not getting a single additional arm to guard against Aug./Sept. wear-and-tear, then losing Weathers in late August, is horrendous process. Clarke Schmidt (maybe), Will Warren and Luis Gil it is, then, champ.

Weathers surviving the worrisome injury he suffered on Saturday and being available for 2027 would be excellent news; if it's "just" a flexor strain and not a precursor, rest and rehab will do wonders. It's a bit too reminiscent of the 2024 Nestor Cortes Jr. injury for my taste, though, and the Yankees rushed him back for October and you might remember it cost 'em.

The Sox series is the more immediate concern. Weather in June turned it into a four-gamer with a doubleheader on Saturday. Mere days ago, the Yankees were lined up for some combination of Weathers, Will Warren/bullpen game, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodón. Now, Friday (which was Weathers' spot) becomes something entirely random, followed by Carlos Rodón, a bullpen game, and Warren on the bump ... unless they act fast.

With an off day Monday, the Yankees can stack their uncertainties in the Astros series Tues.-Thurs. and optimize things for Boston. It may be a little unnatural and awkward, but it's probably necessary.

Fixing the Yankees' rotation in four-game Red Sox series after Ryan Weathers injury

Brendan Beck is the complicating factor; he was promoted on Sunday in Weathers' place after he was initially slated to start Saturday's game for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He wasn't used in relief of Carlos Rodón — though he did warm up in the ninth for some reason? — and he should now be granted a spot start during the Houston series to push everyone back a day.

Gerrit Cole should get the Astros opener (on normal rest), followed by Will Warren and Beck. Beck was barely touched on Sunday, and this gives him Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off before a (likely abbreviated) start. Can Beck and Yarbrough (26 pitches) give you six innings in this series?

You'd then demote him and make one of Saturday's games an Elmer Rodriguez spot start (whowas set to start Sunday in Triple-A, but ... didn't, so ... you know, this might be in the process of being telegraphed). All of this would mean that Warren would now be the odd man out of the Sox set, and Cam Schlittler would get the breather he probably needs after hitting a miniature command wall in his past few outings.

If Beck slides in Wednesday or Thursday (which would mean a longer Warren bump), that could leave the Yankees lining up with Cam Schlittler Friday (six days' rest), Rodón (five days' rest) and ERC/bullpen on Saturday, and Cole (normal rest) to close out the series. It's somewhat unconventional and will lead to accusations of an Astros punt, but ... would you really rather keep the status quo and lose both Cole and Schlittler against Boston? Exactly. Let's see some creativity here.

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