The New York Yankees made a number of roster moves involving their pitching staff on Wednesday ahead of their second game against the Houston Astros.
The Yankees placed struggling reliever Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, optioned righty Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, recalled Elmer Rodriguez, signed Michael Fulmer to a major league deal and moved Kervin Castro to the 60-day IL.
Rodriguez will start tonight’s game against the Houston Astros, as the Yankees look to get back in the win column. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in four starts with the Yankees at the big league level this season. This will be his fifth MLB start of the year and first since June 21 against the Cincinnati Reds.
Fulmer, who was signed to a MLB contract, was selected to the major league roster and will pitch out of the bullpen. Fulmer, 33, pitched just 3.2 big league innings this season for the Los Angeles Angels and did not allow a run. He has a 2.93 ERA in 38 appearances in the minor leagues in 2026. The Yankees’ bullpen has been overworked this season and getting a fresh arm in Fulmer could help.
Cruz has not looked like himself for the entire month of August, which has seen him post an abysmal 6.75 ERA across eight innings. Cruz has seen his ERA balloon from 2.51 to 3.13 on the year. The 36-year-old has been one of the Yankees’ best relievers since being acquired from the Reds in the 2024-2025 offseason, so the injury could be why he has struggled as of late. The Yankees will need Cruz to return and be healthy for the postseason.
As for Castro, he was placed on the IL on August 10 with right elbow neuritis. Moving him to the 60-day IL ends his 2026 season. Castro was solid in 6.1 innings, posting a 1.42 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.
The Yankees have played solid baseball lately, but they only hold a 1.5 game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the top AL wild-card spot entering play Wednesday. The Red Sox, who are now hot again, come to town this weekend for a pivotal rivalry series against the Bronx Bombers.
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