Luke Weaver dominates for third straight day in Yankees closer rarity

Luke Weaver changed teams four times in between the last two occasions the Yankees asked a pitcher to work three straight days during the regular season.Yes, it’s been a long time.The journeyman-turned-lockdown closer recorded the final three outs of a 1-0 victory against the Rangers on Thursday to finish off a series sweep in which he earned a win and two saves while throwing just 18 total pitches.“It’s a lot less stressful when you can just get them out quicker,” Weaver said.Manager Aaron Boone last asked a reliever (Aroldis Chapman) to pitch for a third straight regular-season day Sept.15, 2021.

That was in the middle of a playoff race — when Weaver still was toiling for the Diamondbacks — and not a run-of-the-mill May series, so why did Boone break his rules?“He had a couple days off before, and two nights ago was two pitches,” Boone said.“With the low volume there, it was going to be a save-only situation today.

Felt like he was good to roll.”The conversation was a little more complex for Weaver, who also had a rubber arm for the Yankees during their run to the 2024 World Series.“Being efficient sometimes is really good, but it also allows you to be available,” Weaver said.“I think there are moments where you have to make sure that, just because you didn’t throw a ton of pitches doesn’t necessarily mean that you are 100 percent.

It was one of those discussions where it was like, ‘Unless you tell us different, what do you want to do?’ ”The Yankees bullpen is without Fernando Cruz, who is headed to the injured list.Ian Hamilton had pitched back-to-back days.

Yerry De los Santos was coming off a 25-pitch outing, and Jonathan Loáisiga has not yet pitched on back-to-back days since coming off the injured list.Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.

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