NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Weaver's twinge was felt by the entire New York Yankees fan base.
The closer went on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a strained left hamstring, two days after he got hurt while warming up during a 7-3 victory at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He appears likely to be sidelined until early July or perhaps the All-Star break.
“Simply stepped off the back of the mound and just kind of got into a little bit of a hamstring stretch and just felt a little bit of an abnormal feeling,” Weaver said Tuesday. “A little alarming.”
Devin Williams, dropped as closer in late April with an 11.25 ERA in 10 games, regained the role in Weaver's absence. He allowed a run in a 30-pitch ninth inning but held on to save a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians.
“The runs count the same in the seventh and eighth, as well, so I don’t view it any different,” Williams said.
While the Yankees didn’t place a timeframe on Weaver’s return, the pitcher didn’t dispute an ESPN report’s estimate of four to six weeks.
“I don’t want to get wrapped up in the numbers and I also don’t want to discredit the timeline,” he said.
New York made six roster moves, also activating infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and right-hander Fernando Cruz from the injured list, recalling right-hander Yerry de los Santos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, optioning infielder Jorbit Vivas to the RailRiders and designating right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment.
A 31-year-old right-hander who can become a free agent this autumn, Weaver is 1-1 with a 1.05 ERA and eight saves in nine chances. He supplanted Clay Holmes as closer last September.
From May 20-22, Weaver became the first Yankees pitcher to appear on three consecutive regular-season days since Aroldis Chapman in September 2021, though Weaver's first outing in that stretch lasted just two pitches, and the three totaled 18.
“It's hard to pinpoint one thing," Weaver said. "I know what my body is capable of. I was very blindsided by the fact that this happened.”
Williams, a two-time All-Star acquired from Milwaukee in December, is 2-2 with a 6.35 ERA in 26 games, saving six games in seven chances.
“It was just a product of him scuffling there for a few outings out of the gate,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the game. “I feel like over the last month he’s throwing the ball really well. He’s in a really good rhythm right now — fully expect him to be the dominant guy he’s been throughout his career.”
Williams allowed Carlos Santana’s one-out double and pinch-hitter Daniel Schneemann’s two-out RBI single in the ninth, then retired Bo Naylor on a flyout.
More than two months into the season, Williams said he is far more comfortable than during his early season stumbles.
“I'm in a routine now. I was still figuring it out at the beginning of the year and it’s a big adjustment to make, just in life,” he said. “Getting to the field every day was like — you've got to figure out when you've got to leave and what time do I need to leave to be there when I want to be there and things like that.”
New York made Weaver's IL placement retroactive to Monday and Boone said it wasn’t clear yet whether Weaver will need a platelet-rich plasma injection.
“Definitely a blow, one that I think we can handle and withstand,” Boone said.
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New York Yankees relief pitcher Luke Weaver reacts after getting Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman for the final out of a baseball game Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?
Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.
Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.
Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.
“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”
Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.
By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.
Slot said Salah was a threat all game.
“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.
Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.
It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.
There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.
However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”
“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”
Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
