Scott Efros transferred to Illinois with ‘minor’ shoulder sprain, leaving Yankees bullpen reeling – Reading Eagle

The Yankees’ bullpen took another hit on Monday. Scott Efros, who has started to establish himself as a late-game option for the Yankees, was placed on the injured list with a “minor” sprained right shoulder.

“So Scott is going to IL. He has a small deformity. Hopefully we’ll get him back here in a few weeks,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He will see the doctor tonight but will most likely be ‘off’ for a week or 10 days and then they will start again. So hopefully not something too serious.”

The Yankees recalled Clark Schmidt from Triple-A to fill the bullpen.

He has already made 16 appearances, one start and has a 2.40 ERA while allowing eight earned runs in 30.1 innings with a major league-high 29 strikeouts this season. With 40 games left in the regular season and Luis Severino expected to return in the middle of next month, it’s looking less and less likely they’ll need Schmidt in the rotation.

“Obviously, I know there’s a need in the bullpen right now with some guys going down. So I think maybe that’s more than anything else,” Schmidt said of where it will be used. “But it’s just a wait and see thing.”

And the Yankees may have seen another option late in the game on Sunday.

Lou Trivino came in with the bases loaded in a 2-1 game and wreaked havoc on Sunday, then ended up giving them 2.1 solid innings.

“Well, I mean, I know what it’s like to go out there and leave the bases loaded, and I’m not only trying to pick up the team, but I’m trying to pick up my fellow bullpen guys,” Trivino said. “But it’s one of those things where you just try and try to be as aggressive as possible in the zone and hopefully get some weak contact or swinging misses.”

The right-hander, who the Bombers acquired in Frankie Montas in a deadline deal from the A’s, had a rough start with Oakland this season, but has been getting more use since coming to the Yankees and finding more success slider and cutter.

Even if Efros’ shoulder turns out to be OK, Trivino could play a bigger role in the bullpen and be a big factor. If Holmes returns as well, it could help spread the load on the relievers.

“I am ready for anything. Honestly, I can do anything to help this team win,” Trivino said. “I’ll do whatever they want.”

The Yankees also expect Clay Holmes to return once he qualifies for IL waivers on Aug. 29 for the series opener in Anaheim. The big right-hander, who has been dealing with a lower back, said he felt good after throwing 15 innings from the mound on Sunday and plans to throw again in the bullpen on Tuesday.

But now the Yankees have to mix and match the end of games.

In eight games since the Yankees acquired him from the Cubs at the trade deadline, Efros has allowed four runs, three earned, with a 3.24 ERA.

Efros quickly earned the trust of Boone and the Yankees. Boone turned to him — with Clay Holmes seemingly available but struggling — to close out the Yankees’ only win in Boston. He was there for 1.1 innings in the only game the Bombers won against the Rays.

In eight games since the Yankees acquired him from the Cubs at the trade deadline, Efros has allowed four runs, three earned, with a 3.24 ERA.

“I think one of the good things, and I’m optimistic that we’ll get Scott back in the next few weeks, so, you know, we feel like that’s going to happen. I think a lot of good things happen with our bullpen because of how a handful of those guys pitch,” Boone said. “But, you know, that’s something that we need to figure out and sort of declare, and hopefully that’s something that will declare itself here over the next couple of weeks when guys can start to grab, you know, some roles. And we can get a little more clarity when we roll out here again over the next couple of weeks.”

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