The New York Yankees' Roller Coaster Bullpen: A Closer Look
As the New York Yankees hold a 73-53 record in the latest standings, their season has been a mix of high hopes and frustrating lows. Sitting just a half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the fiercely competitive AL East, the Yankees boast the third-best record in the league. Yet, since July 1, they have gone 19-21, compared to the Orioles' 21-22. This highlights some inconsistency during the crucial mid-summer stretch.
The team's bullpen has been under significant scrutiny, and a substantial part of that focus has fallen on Clay Holmes, who currently leads MLB in blown saves. Holmes' latest misstep came during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians, where the Yankees ultimately suffered a 9-5 defeat in 12 innings. This marked Holmes' tenth blown save of the season, the highest for a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987.
Despite his struggles in save situations, Holmes anchors a bullpen rated among the top 10 in ERA and win probability added. Holmes himself possesses a respectable 2.82 ERA and an impressive ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings. Still, those numbers do little to ease the sting of critical late-game failures. “He’s been unfortunate. He hasn’t made a pitch in a couple of spots where he could, but based on the way he’s thrown the ball the entirety of this year, really you would expect him to have success moving forward. That’s my expectation,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented, defending his closer.
Since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, Holmes has faced added pressure amidst heightened expectations. His season has featured notable blown saves, including an April 3 setback, surrendering a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners on May 20, and giving up a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5. The Yankees have posted a 3-7 record in games where Holmes has blown a save.
The challenge for Boone is finding the right matchups. “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” Boone remarked, hinting at a possible bullpen committee approach in high-leverage situations.
Helping to stabilize the bullpen is setup man Luke Weaver, who has emerged as New York’s most reliable reliever this season. Adding to the mix is Mark Leiter Jr., acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. However, Leiter's transition has been shaky, allowing seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes, raising questions about his role and future effectiveness.
As the Yankees aim to overtake the Orioles and solidify their playoff position, the bullpen's performance will be crucial. If Holmes can find his form and Boone manages to craft optimal matchups, the Yankees could regain momentum. More importantly, Holmes' ability to rebound could very well determine New York's fate in the closing weeks of the season. Effective relief pitching, combined with the offensive power and solid starting rotation, will be key for the Yankees as they barrel toward October. Confidence, focus, and strategic deployment of the bullpen arms will be instrumental in their quest for postseason success.