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Yankees making pitching change for Rangers series finale
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The New York Yankees made a late pitching adjustment ahead of the club’s series finale vs. the Texas Rangers , with pitcher Ryan Weathers unavailable because of illness and Paul Blackburn stepping into the starting role at Yankee Stadium.
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The team heads into Thursday’s MLB action at 25–12, holding a narrow lead atop the American League East, sitting just 0.5 games ahead of the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays , who have won nine of their last 10 games. However, the change shows how quickly rotation plans can shift over the course of a long season, even for one of baseball’s most consistent teams.
Weathers had been a steady contributor for the Yankees, carrying a 3.03 ERA before the illness forced the team to alter its plans. Instead, Blackburn will take the ball in the finale, bringing veteran experience and a 3.21 ERA in limited action this season.
MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reported the late change on X, formerly Twitter, while sharing Weathers’ explanation for the sudden illness.
“I pitched, then went home and pretty much threw my guts out for several hours,” Weathers said. “I thought I just had food poisoning, but woke up the next day and was running a 102 [degree] temp. I was just pretty much bedridden for a couple of days.”
The update explains why the Pinstripes need to adjust. The organization is prioritizing Weathers’ health and turning to Blackburn to provide stability in the series finale.
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Blackburn’s opportunity also arrives at an important point in the schedule, as the Yankees continue relying on rotation depth to maintain momentum during a demanding stretch of games against playoff-caliber opponents, with a series against the Milwaukee Brewers next on the schedule.
The move also reflects the depth the Yankees have leaned on during their strong start. Even without its scheduled starter, the club remains positioned to compete for another series win behind a roster built to absorb unexpected setbacks.
For Blackburn, the assignment creates an opportunity to reinforce his value. For the Yankees, it offers another test of adaptability as they continue navigating the early portion of the season from first place.
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