Jake

Cousins

That doesn’t mean Cousins is ready to pitch, but rather that he can begin throwing bullpens. The 30-year-old is on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow, and won’t be eligible to join the Yankees’ bullpen until the end of May. Cousins will be a middle-inning option as soon as he’s well enough to be one.

Cousins, a key reliever for the club in the second half of last season, is back throwing and probably would have been a candidate for the bullpen before the end of May, but the Yankees are opening up his spot on the 40-man for Pablo Reyes.

Cousins is recovering from a forearm strain and hasn’t been able to participate in Grapefruit League games. The 30-year-old will all-but-assuredly begin the 2025 season on the injured list, but once healthy, he has a chance to be a late-inning option for the New York bullpen.

Cousins added that his UCL “looked great” following an MRI. He should still have a shot at being ready for Opening Day if things go well after he resumes throwing.

Cousins missed time last year with a right pectoral strain, but it appears to be a more significant issue keeping him throwing right now; all due respect to a strained pec, of course. If healthy, the 30-year-old will be one of the middle-inning options behind Devin Williams in the New York bullpen.

Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr. are absent, as the Yankees have chosen to go with 11 pitches. That opens up an extra spot on offense for Duke Ellis to serve as a pinch-runner. Ben Rice is also on the roster in place of Anthony Rizzo. DJ LeMahieu was not activated.

Cousins will then hopefully throw a live bullpen session Thursday. If those go well, there’s a good chance Cousins will be on the ALDS roster, and he’ll be a mid-to-late inning option for the Yankees’ bullpen in that series against the Orioles, Royals or Tigers.

He hasn’t resumed throwing yet, so it’s hard to say if that’s realistic. However, doctors didn’t find any major problems with his chest muscle. If healthy, Cousins should be one of the Yankees’ key relievers in October.

Cousins injured the pec during Thursday’s game against the Mariners. The right-hander’s regular season is over, but he could be back at some point for the Yankees during their postseason run. Clayton Beeter was recalled from Triple-A to take Cousins’ spot on the roster.

Cousins followed Clarke Schmidt, but his velocity was down upon entering the game. The Yankees decided to remove him after only two batters. New York is hoping for the best with one of its most trusted relievers this season. Cousins had a 2.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 38 innings this year.