New York Yankees bullpen cannot keep taking hits

The New York Yankees have scuffled over the past few weeks. Injuries have mounted, the pitching staff has not performed at the same level from the first three months of the year, and the lineup has essentially become the Aaron Judge show. It is not exactly a recipe for success.

Those injuries continued on Monday. Scott Effross, who had been a surprisingly effective addition to the bullpen at the trade deadline, was placed on the Injured List due to a strained shoulder.

Scott Effross just latest blow to New York Yankees bullpen

Effross joins what is becoming an increasingly long list of Yankees relievers on the sidelines. He is now the sixth member of the Yankees bullpen on the IL, joining Chad Green, Michael King, Miguel Castro, Clay Holmes, and Albert Abreu. Aroldis Chapman had also missed time earlier this year and was not exactly effective before being sidelined.

While the Yankees have plenty of bullpen depth, those losses take a toll. They have almost an entire bullpen on the IL, with the depth to their depth being tested. Effross, along with Lou Trivino, had been acquired to shore up that damaged unit.

On the positive side, he is expected back at some point. Effross has been shut down from throwing for seven to ten days before he will ramp back up again. At the same time, Holmes is starting to throw bullpen sessions and could return in the relatively near future. Castro is throwing again as well, potentially giving the Yankees bullpen a boost.

What is going to be important is that these arms are healthy for the stretch run and into October. Yes, the Yankees have fallen over the past few weeks, no longer having the best record in the majors, or in the American League for that matter. But that does not matter in October when their bullpen should be healthy once again.

The New York Yankees bullpen has taken another hit. However, as long as they are healthy for the postseason, that is all that matters.