In a night that Yankee fans would rather forget, reliever Luke Weaver delivered a performance that was as painful to watch as it was candidly described. On Monday, Weaver took the mound against the Minnesota Twins, only to unravel in spectacular fashion, surrendering five runs while managing just one out in the seventh inning. The result? A crushing 7-0 loss for the Yankees, with Weaver left to dissect his own shortcomings in a brutally honest post-game reflection.
“That was trash,” Weaver admitted, not mincing words about his outing. The stark admission came as no surprise to those who witnessed the reliever struggle, as his mechanics faltered and his pitches found no rhythm. Weaver allowed three hits and issued two walks, a stark contrast to his clutch performance just two days prior against the Red Sox, where he struck out two to strand a pair of inherited runners. That moment had echoed the best of Weaver’s past two seasons, but Monday’s meltdown was a reminder of his recent inconsistency.
Over his last six appearances, Weaver has allowed at least one run in four, a troubling trend as the postseason looms. Reflecting on his struggles, he pinpointed the issue to a lack of synchronization in his delivery. “The body just wasn’t on time,” Weaver explained. “It wasn’t aligned with what I was trying to execute. I felt like I was fighting myself the whole time. Mentally, I was trying to stay positive, stay within myself, but those two things just weren’t coming together.”
Despite the frustration, Weaver was quick to dismiss any concerns about injury. “I’m not in any pain or anything like that,” he clarified. “It’s just a lack of togetherness with the body. Those things happen, but it’s inexcusable. We’ve got to find a way to get it done.” His accountability was raw and unfiltered, a testament to his determination to rebound as the Yankees gear up for a critical playoff push.
While Weaver’s performance cast a shadow over the night, there were moments of pride for the Yankees organization. Before the game, starter Carlos Rodón was named the Yankees’ nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing his and his wife Ashley’s impactful work through their foundation, which supports couples navigating infertility and pregnancy loss. “It’s a big honor,” Rodón said of the nomination. “Roberto was an unbelievable player on the field and an even better person off it, giving his time to help people and children.”
The game also marked Roberto Clemente Day, with seven Yankees—Rodón, David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, Paul Goldschmidt, Tim Hill, Aaron Judge (the 2023 award winner), and Giancarlo Stanton—donning No. 21 to honor the Pirates legend and humanitarian. Bednar, a Pittsburgh native who spent over four years with the Pirates, made a passionate case for retiring Clemente’s number league-wide. “What he meant to baseball, and more importantly, who he was off the field, deserves that recognition,” Bednar said.
Elsewhere, rookie catcher Ben Rice, who had started 11 consecutive games, including Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox, got a breather from the starting lineup. Manager Aaron Boone cited Rice’s heavy workload, particularly as a catcher, as the reason for the rest. “He’s played as much as anyone,” Boone noted. “This time of year, we’re mindful of his workload, especially since he hasn’t played this much down the stretch before.” Rice still made an impact, pinch-hitting and catching in the eighth inning.
Meanwhile, Aaron Judge continued to shine, earning American League Player of the Week honors after a scorching stretch. Judge went 9-for-20 (.450) with a 1.760 OPS and five home runs over six games, solidifying his status as the Yankees’ offensive cornerstone.
For Weaver, Monday’s outing was a low point, but his candid self-assessment and resolve to improve offer hope that he can rediscover his form before the playoffs. As the Yankees fight to secure their postseason positioning, they’ll need Weaver—and the rest of the bullpen—to find consistency. With stars like Judge leading the way and the team honoring legends like Clemente, the Yankees remain a squad with heart and hustle, even on their toughest nights.