The anxiety level about the condition of closer Mariano Rivera went up another notch for New York Yankees fans Tuesday night as closer Mariano Rivera was unavailable for the second straight night due to a sore triceps.
"It feels better than yesterday, but it's still a little bit there," Rivera said. "I don't think I ever felt 100 percent since the first day I started playing baseball. I can pitch now, but I don't want to take a chance."
The 41-year-old Rivera blew his fourth save of the season Sunday in a loss to the New York Mets, and has not pitched in either game in Cleveland due to the triceps issue. Rivera is 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA and 21 saves so far this season.
The New York bullpen has already been riddled with injuries this season. Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte are out for the season, and Pedro Feliciano and Rafael Soriano are both sidelined indefinitely.