CLEVELAND — Mariano Rivera went through a normal pregame routine of playing catch and long toss then said the soreness in the right triceps above the elbow hadn’t subsided completely.
“I felt it a little bit in the same area while throwing,” Rivera said before he sat out of last night’s 9-0 win over the Indians at Progressive Field. “I will be in the bullpen in case, but it will be their decision. They can use me, but if I get another day [off] it will be better.”
In Monday night’s 6-3 loss to the Indians, Rivera also wasn’t available after telling the medical staff he was experiencing soreness. Yesterday when he reported to work, Rivera said the soreness had decreased.
Yet, the Yankees weren’t going to mess with the 41-year-old closer, who has flushed four of 25 save chances.
Rivera said there are no MRI exams or other tests slated and wasn’t concerned this could be a larger problem than it is.
“I don’t think I have been 100 percent since the day I started playing baseball,” Rivera said before last night’s game. “I could pitch, but I don’t want to take that chance. There is no concern. I am in the best hands we have here in Geno [Monahan, trainer].”
Even without Rivera, manager Joe Girardi’s bullpen was in better shape last night than Monday, when he was without Luis Ayala because the right-hander had worked in three of the previous four games.
So, Ayala was available to work the eighth if needed. David Robertson, who hadn’t pitched since Sunday, was ready to assume Rivera’s closer duties.
Considering how vital Rivera
is to the Yankees, it wouldn’t be a surprised if he is held out of tonight’s action to make sure everything is OK. It’s often the Yankees’ habit of waiting an additional day to be safe.