Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers staying true to his word about fastball usage

The New York Yankees watched Ryan Weathers remain committed to his revised pitch mix Tuesday night, when the left-hander helped secure a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium.

Weathers entered the opener of the three-game series with a 3.79 ERA after throwing six scoreless innings in his previous start. During that outing, he used his four-seam fastball only seven times while relying more heavily on his secondary pitches.

The same approach continued against Seattle. Through his first 56 pitches Tuesday, Weathers had thrown only seven four-seamers, showing that the change represented an ongoing strategy rather than a temporary experiment.

New York Daily News Sports’ Gary Phillips documented the trend Tuesday in a post on X, formerly Twitter, connecting Weathers’ pitch selection to the straightforward explanation he provided after his previous outing.

“Ryan Weathers is once again laying off his four-seamer; he’s used it for just 7 of his 56 pitches so far.

Asked why he’s throwing it less after his last start, he replied, ‘The other pitches stay in the ballpark.’”

The 26-year-old southpaw completed 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out four. Randy Arozarena’s solo home run in the sixth accounted for the Mariners’ only run against him.

The adjustment has become an important development within the Yankees’ rotation. Weathers has reduced his four-seam usage while turning more frequently to his changeup, sinker, sweeper, and slider.

That shift has coincided with improved results. Before Tuesday, Weathers had surrendered only one run across his previous 18 2/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 3.79 entering the series.

For now, Weathers continues trusting the philosophy he publicly explained. Instead of forcing his hardest pitch into unfavorable situations, he is leaning on the offerings that have produced better results. Tuesday’s performance reinforced that commitment while helping New York open the series with another win.

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