{"id":184324,"date":"2026-05-07T22:47:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T22:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=184324"},"modified":"2026-05-07T22:47:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T22:47:34","slug":"breaking-yankees-scratch-hurlers-start-after-he-loses-9-pounds-due-to-illness-fans-express-concern-over-the-unexpected-setback-analysts-debate-how-this-could-affect-new-yorks-rota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=184324","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Yankees Scratch Hurler\u2019s Start After He Loses 9 Pounds Due to Illness, Fans Express Concern Over the Unexpected Setback, Analysts Debate How This Could Affect New York\u2019s Rotation and Early Season Performance \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"

If Ryan Weathers had made his regularly scheduled start Thursday, it would have been a lesser version \u2014 literally.<\/p>\n

The Yankees lefty said he lost 9 pounds in two days due to an illness that caused him to \u201cpretty much [throw] my guts up for several hours,\u201d leading the club to scratch him from the series finale against the Rangers and insert Paul Blackburn instead.<\/p>\n

According to Weathers, he did not feel well during his most recent start \u2014 when he allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings in a win over the Orioles on Saturday \u2014 and returned home believing he had food poisoning.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He was not sure what he contracted \u2014 \u201csomething viral\u201d \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

He is expected to throw a side session Friday and likely will take the mound Monday for the beginning of a series in Baltimore.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy arm feels really good,\u201d Weathers said after the Yankees\u2019 6-1 loss to the Rangers in The Bronx on Wednesday. \u201cIt\u2019s been weird. That\u2019s what\u2019s been frustrating \u2014 my body still feels strong, and my arm felt great. So it was one of the weirder sicknesses I\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"New<\/em><\/p>\n

Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) reacts on the mound in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles.<\/em><\/p>\n

X-rays taken on Jos\u00e9 Caballero\u2019s left elbow came back negative, and the shortstop believes he can play Thursday.<\/p>\n

Caballero was plunked by a curveball in the third inning and appeared to be in plenty of pain but remained in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust kind of got him in the right spot,\u201d manager Aaron Boone said of Caballero, whose elbow had swollen up.<\/p>\n

Yerry De los Santos\u2019 reward for holding down the Rangers over 3 \u00b9\/\u2083 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.<\/p>\n

Reinforcements are coming: Carlos Rod\u00f3n 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.<\/p>\n

The Yankees demoted Elmer Rodr\u00edguez after Tuesday\u2019s victory, and Rod\u00f3n 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.<\/p>\n

In three rehab starts, Rod\u00f3n built up to 85 pitches and pitched to a 3.38 ERA with 16 strikeouts and three walks in 16 innings.<\/p>\n

\"Carlos<\/em><\/p>\n

Carlos Rod\u00f3n of the Scranton\/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, during a game against the Worcester Red Sox.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFeel like he\u2019s been throwing the ball well,\u201d Boone said of Rod\u00f3n, who was charged with six earned runs in 6 \u00b9\/\u2083 innings with SWB in his final tuneup. \u201cHe\u2019s starting to command his stuff well. Feel like he\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rod\u00f3n 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel like he\u2019s ready to go,\u201d Boone said of Rod\u00f3n, who will make his return from offseason elbow surgery to remove bone chips.<\/p>\n

Cole will need \u201cat least a couple more\u201d rehab outings before he is deemed ready, Boone said.<\/p>\n

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 \u00b9\/\u2083 innings with High-A Hudson Valley.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/em><\/p>\n

Yankees Gerrit Cole in the dugout during a game against the Orioles.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is filling up the strike zone, popping some 98-99s [mph],\u201d Boone said. \u201cThink there was a lot of good [Tuesday]. He got whacked a couple times, which is not a bad thing. He\u2019s working on different things I think each time out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really like where he\u2019s at.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Ben Rice was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game after suffering a left hand contusion Sunday.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Paul Goldschmidt started at first base and went 0-for-3.<\/p>\n

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