Jake Cousins remains on track to be back in time for the ALDS, as long as he gets through two more hurdles this week.
The Yankees reliever, on the injured list with a strained right pec, is planning to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, then face hitters in a live session Thursday, which could give him the green light to be activated off the IL in time for Saturday’s Game 1 of the ALDS.
“I feel really good,” Cousins said Sunday at Yankee Stadium before a 6-4 win over the Pirates to close out the regular season.
Cousins played catch Friday and Saturday and came through that feeling good before taking Sunday off.
He is set to throw again Monday before getting on the mound Tuesday for the first time since he left a Sept. 19 game in Seattle after just six pitches because of pec tightness.
Yankees cap regular season with win over Pirates as attention shifts to postseason sprint
If healthy, Cousins would be an important piece of the Yankees’ late-inning bullpen mix.
With a plan of mixing and matching without a set closer (despite Luke Weaver largely taking over that role, even without the official title), Cousins has the ability to generate swings and misses in high-leverage spots.