Hamilton's injury occurred while he was covering first base during the sixth inning, leading to his removal from the roster before Game 4.

As a result of the left calf injury, Hamilton will miss the rest of the AL Championship Series against Cleveland and is ineligible for the World Series if the Yankees advance.

The 29-year-old Hamilton had a solid regular-season performance with a 3.82 ERA over 35 games and had appeared in two postseason games prior to his injury.

This injury comes after Hamilton previously spent nearly three months on the injured list due to a strained right lat muscle.

Despite his struggles, Leiter will now have the opportunity to contribute in the postseason, a stage he has not yet pitched in during his five-year major league career.

The New York Yankees faced a setback in Game 3 against the Cleveland Guardians, losing 7-5 and one of their key relievers, Ian Hamilton, for the remainder of the postseason due to injury.

Despite leading 5-3 in the ninth inning, the Yankees allowed the Guardians to tie the game with a homer from rookie Jhonkensy Noel, followed by a walk-off hit from David Fry in the tenth.

Mark Leiter Jr. has been named as Hamilton's replacement on the roster, following MLB's approval of the substitution based on Hamilton's medical status.

Leiter was acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline for his ability to generate swing-and-misses, but he has struggled with a 4.98 ERA in 21 appearances since joining the Yankees.

Under postseason rules, Hamilton's injury means he cannot participate in the World Series, should the Yankees make it that far.

Following the loss in Game 3, the Yankees still lead the series 2-1, but they will need to adjust their strategy without Hamilton.

Hamilton expressed frustration after walking the first batter he faced in the sixth inning, a moment that foreshadowed the trouble that would follow.