The New York Yankees find themselves in a tight race in the AL East, currently holding a record of 73-53. Sitting just half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees maintain the third-best record in the league. Despite these accomplishments, the team has faced its share of challenges, especially in the bullpen.
Since July 1, the Yankees have posted a 19-21 record, while the Orioles have gone 21-22 over the same period. A significant part of the Yankees' struggle can be traced to the performance of their closer, Clay Holmes, who has led MLB in blown saves. With a total of ten blown saves, Holmes’ struggles have echoed those of Dave Righetti in 1987, who had 13 blown saves.
Holmes' latest setback came during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians. In a game that stretched to 12 innings, the Yankees eventually fell 9-5, marking another missed opportunity for Holmes. When reflecting on Holmes' performance this season, Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked, “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.”
Those expectations are supported by Holmes' overall statistics. With a 2.82 ERA and a ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings, Holmes has shown flashes of brilliance. His journey with the Yankees began when he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, and despite some notable failures this season—including a three-run lead loss against the Seattle Mariners on May 20 and a game-tying two-run homer surrendered to Masataka Yoshida on July 5—Boone remains hopeful about Holmes' capacity to rebound.
As the Yankees navigate these turbulent waters, Boone's strategic approach could be pivotal. “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” Boone said. This implies a possible reconfiguration of bullpen roles to optimize outcomes in high-pressure situations.
While Holmes has struggled, other members of the bullpen have stepped up. Setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as New York’s most reliable reliever this season. Additionally, the Yankees made strategic moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs. Leiter, however, has had a rocky start in pinstripes, allowing seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings.
The Yankees’ bullpen, despite its troubles, remains ranked in the top ten for ERA and win probability added. This statistic reflects a collective resilience and capability that could be crucial as the team aims to overtake the Orioles and solidify their playoff position.
Holmes' performance in the closing weeks will undoubtedly be under the microscope. His ability to rebound from past blown saves could determine the Yankees' fortunes as they push toward the postseason. Moreover, Boone's willingness to adapt and find the right matchups for his relievers will be closely monitored as the season progresses.
The coming weeks will be a critical test for the Yankees, who have shown they possess the talent to compete at the highest level but now must find consistency, particularly in the bullpen. As the playoff race tightens, every pitch, every save, and every managerial decision will be essential in shaping the outcome of their season.