Jack Curry:
Scott Effross was excluded from the ALDS roster because he had an elbow issue and it’s been determined that he will need Tommy John surgery. Major loss for the Yankees, who viewed Effross as a linchpin reliever in this postseason and beyond.
The loss of Effross will make an already unsettled bullpen situation a more unsettled. Effross is effective against LHB and RHB and would have been in the mix in high-leverage situations. Still trying to determine how and when he injured himself. He pitched 1 inning on Oct. 3.
The Effross injury makes Chapman's decision to miss a mandatory workout more egregious. While Chapman wasn't expected to make ALDS roster, he was probably an injury away from being a very strong consideration. That injury occurred. Instead, Castro secures final bullpen spot.
Effross felt something in his elbow in his live BP last Friday. The MRI showed a tear. Effross had initially had an elbow issue after a 21-pitch outing against Balt on Sept 30. But he didn’t feel it again in a 10-pitch outing vs Texas on Oct 3. So the injury surprised Yankees
Effross said he felt mild soreness in his elbow and it lingered. He thought it was end-of-the-year soreness. But, since it lingered, an MRI was ordered. Effross said the news about needing TJS was “kind of shocking.”