Loaisiga and the Yankees avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal Friday.
Loaisiga took a step back last season, with his ERA jumping from 2.17 to 4.13 while his strikeout rate fell from 24.4 percent to 18.2 percent. If he recaptures his 2021 form this season, he could be one of closer Clay Holmes' top deputies, but a repeat of last year's numbers may not earn him much high-leverage work.
Loaisiga gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning to record his second save of the season in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers.
The Yankees' closer picture remains cloudy heading into the postseason -- Scott Effross got the save Monday, while Lou Trivino picked up the team's last save before that Sept. 27. Loaisiga has been pitching well enough to put himself in the late-inning mix, posting a 1.72 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 15.2 innings since the beginning of September, but he's more likely to handle a setup role in the playoffs.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Nabs win Friday
Rotowire
Loaisiga (2-3) earned the win over Boston on Friday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over two scoreless innings.
Loaisiga took over in the top of the eighth inning with the score tied 4-4 and quickly retired the side in order. After the Yankees scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame, Loaisiga was allowed to return in the ninth to close things out. He surrendered a pair of one-out singles that put the tying run in scoring position but was able to finish off the job. That the Yankees stuck with the right-hander despite some tension indicates the unsettled nature of their closer role more than his effectiveness this season. Loaisiga has taken a step back with a 4.43 ERA and 1.32 WHIP overall in 2022, and he's given up five runs (three earned) over his past six innings.
Loaisiga struck out one batter over 1.1 perfect innings and earned a save over the Mets on Monday.
Loaisiga needed just 12 pitches (nine strikes) to retire all four batters he faced in Monday's victory. It was his first save of the season and first opportunity since blowing a save against the White Sox on May 12. Loaisiga is now sporting a 5.76 ERA through 34 appearances on the year. He could be looking at some more action as the closer with Clay Holmes (back) and Scott Effross (shoulder) out; neither Aroldis Chapman nor Lou Trivino pitched in Monday's contest.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Takes loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Loaisiga (2-3) was tagged with the loss against Seattle on Tuesday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk while recording one out in the 13th inning.
The teams played to a scoreless standstill through 12 frames, and Loaisiga was brought in to handle the 13th. He allowed a leadoff single to Cal Raleigh and issued an intentional walk to load the bases with one out before Luis Torrens notched a walkoff single. Since returning from a shoulder injury July 14, Loaisiga has posted a 5.63 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over eight innings and hasn't notched a hold or a save over 11 appearances. He doesn't appear to be among manager Aaron Boone's preferred high-leverage options at the moment.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Knocked around in return
Rotowire
Loaisiga pitched two-thirds of an inning against the Reds on Thursday, allowing three run on four hits. He did not walk or strike out any batters.
Loaisiga missed nearly two months with a shoulder injury, so his return was a welcome sight for the Yankees bullpen. However, things didn't go as planned in his first game back, as the right-hander gave up four singles and three runs that turned a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 deficit. Loaisiga was exceptional for New York last season, but he's struggled to an 8.31 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB over 17.1 innings so far in 2022.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Returning from injured list
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Loaisiga (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.
Loaisiga has been sidelined by shoulder inflammation since late May, but he'll rejoin the Yankees just ahead of the All-Star break after a two-game rehab stint in the minors. The 27-year-old has struggled to a 7.02 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB across 16.2 innings this year, so he may need to prove he's back in good form before the team returns him to the high-leverage role he filled last season.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Rehab moves to Triple-A
Rotowire
Loaisiga (shoulder) had his rehab assignment shifted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will start Tuesday.
Loaisiga will make another rehab appearance Tuesday, starting for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in what could be his final outing prior to returning to the big leagues. The right-hander could return prior to the All-Star break, though it may make more sense to wait until after the festivities to activate him.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Set for another rehab appearance
Rotowire
Loaisiga (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning with one strikeout with Single-A Tampa on Saturday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Loaisiga threw 13 pitches without allowing a baserunner. His next rehab appearance will come at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. If things go well in that outing, it's possible he'll return prior to the All-Star break.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Loaisiga (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Tampa on Saturday.
Shoulder issues have kept Loaisiga on the sidelines since late May. An absence that long likely requires a lengthy rehab assignment, though the Yankees haven't provided a specific timetable for his return.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Throws to live hitters
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Loaisiga (shoulder) threw 21 pitches in a live bullpen session in Tampa on Saturday, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports.
Saturday's session was Loaisiga's first time throwing to live hitters since he went on the IL on May 25. The right-hander is expected to throw another live BP on Tuesday. He could toss another session after that, but it's also possible that he will subsequently begin a minor-league rehab assignment that would likely see him get into multiple games before returning to the Yankees.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Impresses during bullpen
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Manager Aaron Boone was impressed with how Loaisiga (shoulder) looked during Saturday's bullpen session, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Loaisiga has been sidelined with a shoulder injury for a month, but he threw off a mound for the first time Saturday. While Boone said that Loaisiga looked "great," the right-hander will require several bullpens and live batting practice sessions before he's cleared to begin a rehab assignment.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Bullpen session scheduled
Rotowire
Loaisiga (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Previous reports indicated that Loaisiga could advance from throwing off flat ground to a bullpen session Thursday or Friday, but he's evidently a bit behind that schedule. He's been out for over a month with shoulder inflammation, so his return isn't imminent, but he's trending in the right direction.
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Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Could toss bullpen later in week
Rotowire
Loaisiga (shoulder) is hoping to throw a bullpen session either Thursday or Friday of this week, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Loaisiga did some throwing work earlier in the day Monday, as he managed to play catch off flat ground from 110 feet. A bullpen session would be a key next step for the right-hander, as he hasn't thrown off a mound since going down with right shoulder inflammation in late May.
