MINNEAPOLIS — Luke Weaver did not lose the game for the Yankees on Monday night, but he did not make it any easier for them to try to win it.
And after getting tagged for five runs while recording one out in the seventh inning of what became a 7-0 loss to the Twins, he did not try to sugarcoat his outing either.
“That was trash,” Weaver said.
The last time he was on the mound before Monday, Weaver was getting two huge strikeouts to strand a pair of inherited runners in Saturday’s win over the Red Sox, a scene reminiscent of his best self over the past two seasons.
But the reliever has had some more hiccups of late, giving up at least one run in four of his past six outings as he tries to get back on track in time for the playoffs.
Monday’s issues, at least, had to do with his mechanics while giving up three hits and two walks.
“The body just wasn’t on time,” Weaver said. “It wasn’t aligned with what I was trying to execute and do. I felt like I was fighting myself the whole time. Mentally, I was just trying to overcome it, have a good mindset and stay within myself. Those two things just weren’t coming together.
“I’m not in any pain or anything along those lines. It’s just an energy, a lack of togetherness with the body. Those things happen. But it’s just inexcusable. We got to find a way to get it done and overcome that.”
Before making his start Monday, Carlos Rodón was named the Yankees nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award, a nod for the work that he and wife Ashley have done with their foundation that supports couples facing infertility and pregnancy loss.
“It’s definitely a big honor,” Rodón said. “Roberto was quite the ambassador for baseball. An unbelievable player on the field and a better person off the field, giving his time to help people and children.”
Rodón was one of seven Yankees — along with David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, Paul Goldschmidt, Tim Hill, Aaron Judge (who won it in 2023) and Giancarlo Stanton — to wear No. 21 in honor of the former Pirates Hall of Famer and humanitarian on Monday, which was Roberto Clemente Day.
“I think it’s time to retire 21 league-wide, just what he meant to the game of baseball and more importantly, who he was off the field,” said Bednar, who grew up in Pittsburgh and spent the past 4 ¹/₂ years with the Pirates.
After starting 11 straight games, including catching Sunday night’s series finale against the Red Sox, Ben Rice was out of the lineup Monday before pinch-hitting and catching the eighth inning.
“He’s obviously played probably as much as anyone,” Boone said. “Being mindful of this time of year, he hasn’t played a lot down the stretch [in previous years] and he’s catching on top of it.”
Aaron Judge was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday after batting 9-for-20 (.450) with a 1.760 OPS and five home runs in six games.
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