{"id":21699,"date":"2026-08-29T14:32:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T21:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=21699"},"modified":"2026-08-29T14:32:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T21:32:21","slug":"how-the-yankees-proceed-after-fernando-cruzs-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/08\/29\/how-the-yankees-proceed-after-fernando-cruzs-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Yankees Proceed After Fernando Cruz&#8217;s Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/yankees\">New York Yankees\u2019<\/a> pitching staff suffered another blow on Wednesday, as reliever <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=cruzfe01,cruz--005fer&amp;search=Fernando+Cruz&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Fernando Cruz<\/strong><\/a> was ruled out for 2026 with a torn UCL in his right elbow.<\/p>\n<p>Cruz, 36, joins a long list of Yankee pitchers who have missed time this season. That list includes starters <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/colege01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Gerrit Cole<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rodonca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Carlos Rodon<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/friedma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Max Fried<\/strong><\/a>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/weathry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ryan Weathers<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=gillu01,gil---004lui&amp;search=Luis+Gil&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Luis Gil<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/schmicl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Clarke Schmidt<\/a><\/strong>, as well as reliever <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chivian01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Angel Chivilli<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This season, Cruz posted a record of 4\u20136 with a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances. Despite struggling with his command, the four-year veteran posted elite swing-and-miss numbers. His 28.6% whiff rate ranked in the 87th percentile, and his 39.1% whiff rate ranked in the 99th percentile. However, while the Yankees will certainly miss his production, the team has several ways to replace him.<\/p>\n<h4>Send a Starter to the Bullpen<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"YPyhOovrT9tW0IpKfQvETQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2269160486\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'YPyhOovrT9tW0IpKfQvETQ',sig:'a-sowM_IK02niEnEZ8_oFigTgxPA4l6Mi4lsmpY0usY=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2269160486',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Sending Ryan Weathers to the bullpen seems like the likeliest option, especially considering his pitching profile. Like Cruz, Weathers has great strikeout numbers, as his 143 punch-outs are the 27th most in baseball. The 26-year-old also has better command, as his 6.7% walk rate ranks in the 79th percentile.<\/p>\n<p>However, if Weathers\u2019 left forearm injury continues to linger, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rodriel03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Elmer Rodriguez<\/strong><\/a> remains an enticing option. Despite having five career starts under his belt, the 23-year-old generates ground balls at a 50% clip. He\u2019s also shown improved command, striking out 10 batters and walking four in his past two starts.<\/p>\n<h4>Gamble on Gil or Schmidt<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"mSMI43OBSZxtNdyzCRAeGw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2181623515\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'mSMI43OBSZxtNdyzCRAeGw',sig:'94bzIiuLDqqDP6YVRuUTidD3wgNxjKuBAg7ep63d3Sc=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2181623515',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Gil, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, was sent to Triple-A in late April. He landed on the IL shortly after with right shoulder inflammation, but has since made five rehab appearances between High-A and Triple-A. Every appearance has been as a relief pitcher, with the 28-year-old throwing 7 1\/3 scoreless innings. His fastball has touched 97 mph, so Gil remains a viable option.<\/p>\n<p>Schmidt, meanwhile, is scheduled to pitch on Saturday for the first time since July 3, 2025. The 30-year-old has spent the past year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is set to throw close to 24 pitches. Before suffering his injury, Clarke put together back-to-back quality campaigns in 2024 and 2025. Across 30 starts, Schmidt pitched to a 3.07 ERA and compiled 3.7 WAR.<\/p>\n<h4>Roll With a Veteran<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"t65prbVWQ1hCJUjpRkL6Og\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2290010134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'t65prbVWQ1hCJUjpRkL6Og',sig:'J0Y86m1cLYNDVaLlks3i5XrBF1Ft3ZIu9ERyMyic0pM=',w:'594px',h:'419px',items:'2290010134',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This season, the Yankees have sprinkled in appearances from the likes of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hannebr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bradley Hanner<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/topaju01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Justin Topa<\/strong><\/a>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/fulmemi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-08-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Michael Fulmer<\/a><\/strong>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/castrke01.shtml\"><strong>Kervin Castro<\/strong><\/a>. Since none of them have been used in high-leverage situations, it\u2019s unlikely any of them will fill Cruz\u2019s role. However, with a month left in the regular season, that could certainly change.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Main Photo:<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"Eu2K5pQJQalj6Gsk1L6QvA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2292219519\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Eu2K5pQJQalj6Gsk1L6QvA',sig:'bm0pvyylnD4jJeHmyd6qI9wpzlJ4Y_qAgrA6MB5Ut-o=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2292219519',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New York Yankees\u2019 pitching staff suffered another blow on Wednesday, as reliever Fernando Cruz was ruled out for 2026 with a torn UCL in his right elbow. Cruz, 36, joins a long list of Yankee pitchers who have missed time this season. That list includes starters Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Max Fried, Ryan Weathers, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":21703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[2235,2262,2571,104,383,2282,916,386,1313,2572,1843,1139,484,874,1533],"class_list":["post-21699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yankees","tag-2026-new-york-yankees","tag-angel-chivilli","tag-bradley-hanner","tag-carlos-rodon","tag-clarke-schmidt","tag-elmer-rodriguez","tag-fernando-cruz","tag-gerrit-cole","tag-justin-topa","tag-kervin-castro","tag-luis-gil","tag-max-fried","tag-michael-fulmer","tag-ryan-weathers","tag-tommy-john","pmpro-has-access","eq-blocks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How 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