Yankees hope Jake Cousins ​​is ready for playoffs as he goes on injured reserve

OAKLAND, Calif. — Jake Cousins’ pectoral issue has gone from “a few days’ issue” to a 15-day injured list.

The Yankees placed Cousins ​​on injured reserve Sunday with a right pectoral injury and called up Clayton Beeter to take his spot in the bullpen.

Cousins ​​has proven to be a big, high-leverage arm in the mix and the Yankees’ late-inning game, but he’ll now be out for at least the remainder of the regular season, though the hope is he can return for the playoffs.

“We’re hoping it’s minor enough that it goes away a couple of days later and it starts to build up next week to be in line for the playoffs,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday morning before the series finale against the A’s at the Coliseum. “We didn’t want to be in a situation where … let’s say he comes into a game on Tuesday and he’s not quite healthy, and then we have to put him on injured reserve and then we’re faced with a time situation. So we’ll see what we have.”

Cousins, 30, is scheduled to see team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Monday, but Boone is hopeful the right-hander will be back on the mound as early as next week.

If the Yankees manage to win the AL East, their first playoff game (in the ALDS) will not take place until October 5.

Cousins ​​last pitched Thursday in Seattle but threw just six pitches before leaving the mound with a trainer.

He said he had been suffering from chest tightness for a few days, but felt enough improvement to give it a try.