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Yankees Suffer Another Setback with Injured Pitcher Shut Down

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 17, 2025 12:35 PM ET

Coming off the high of Friday night’s emotional win, the New York Yankees had bad news to deliver Saturday morning.

Manager Aaron Boone announced that reliever Jake Cousins has been shut down from his rehab for at least a few days. The right-hander felt discomfort in his pectoral muscle during a recent batting practice. Boone called the move “precautionary.

Cousins had been working his way back from a right elbow flexor strain that landed him on the injured list in March.

Now, the Yankees will hit pause again and reassess after the shutdown period of four to five days.

The 30-year-old was one of the more reliable arms in the Yankees’ bullpen last season, posting a 2.37 ERA and racking up 53 strikeouts over 38 innings. A seemingly insignificant acquisition when they got him, Cousins was one of the pitchers the Yankees made into a vital part of the bullpen. Boone’s confidence in him was apparent in the Yankees’ postseason run to the World Series.

Cousins made six postseason appearances, including a pivotal outing in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. Cousins struck out four batters in that game, working around a two-out walk in the eighth, to get the game to the closer Luke Weaver.

The latest issue brings back some familiar concerns.

Cousins dealt with a pectoral injury late last season, missing the final nine regular-season games before gutting it out in October.

This comes on the heels of the Yankees getting back Jonathan Loaisiga Friday night. Loaisiga missed the start of the season and most of the 2024 season after having Tommy John surgery. On Friday night, he pitched a scoreless inning in his 2025 debut against the Mets.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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