The New York Yankees are facing a critical juncture in their season, holding a 73-53 record as of the latest standings. This places them a mere half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the highly competitive AL East. Notably, the Yankees boast the third-best record in the league. However, recent trends highlight some concerns that could significantly impact their playoff aspirations.
Since July 1, the Yankees have struggled, going 19-21. Their division rivals, the Orioles, have a slightly better record of 21-22 over the same period. A significant factor in the Yankees' recent performance is their bullpen, particularly the issues surrounding closer Clay Holmes.
Holmes' Struggles in the Clutch
Holmes leads Major League Baseball in blown saves this season, with his latest miscue occurring during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians. The Yankees eventually fell 9-5 in 12 innings in that game. Holmes’ ten blown saves are the most for a Yankees pitcher since Dave Righetti’s 13 in 1987.
Despite these struggles, Holmes has posted a 2.82 ERA and boasts a ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings, numbers that generally indicate strong performance. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, Holmes has had a mixed bag of outings. His earlier blown saves include a three-run lead surrendered against the Seattle Mariners on May 20 and a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5.
“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.
Implications for the Yankees
The Yankees have a 3-7 record in games where Holmes has blown a save. This performance could serve as a linchpin for the Yankees’ remaining games as they aim to overtake the Orioles and solidify their playoff position. Boone has indicated a flexible approach to save situations, stating, “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well.”
Holmes' ability to bounce back over the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining the Yankees' fate in the closing stages of the season. His track record suggests potential; however, the need for consistency in high-leverage situations remains critical.
Strength and Reinforcements
Despite the challenges with Holmes, the Yankees bullpen isn’t entirely devoid of reliability. Currently ranked in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added, the relief corps has been a relative strength. Setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as one of New York’s most reliable relievers this season, offering some stability amid the turbulence.
Additionally, the acquisition of Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline was intended to bolster the bullpen. However, Leiter's performance has been underwhelming, allowing seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes.
The Yankees’ ambitions are clear: they aim to overtake the Orioles and secure a stronger playoff position. Whether or not they achieve this could very well hinge on Holmes' ability to rebound from his recent blown saves and the effectiveness of their bullpen as a whole.
As the regular season winds down, the Yankees' bullpen will be under close scrutiny. With a high-stakes race unfolding in the AL East, the ability to close out games will make all the difference for a team with championship aspirations.