The New York Yankees find themselves in the thick of the playoff chase, boasting a commendable record of 73-53. Sitting just a half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the highly competitive AL East, the Yankees also hold the third-best record in the league. Despite these promising standings, the journey hasn’t been without its bumps, especially on the mound.
One of the glaring challenges for the Yankees has been the performance of closer Clay Holmes. He has been a double-edged sword for New York, leading MLB in blown saves this season. His latest misstep came during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians, where the Yankees eventually fell 9-5 in an exhausting 12-inning battle. Holmes' ten blown saves mark a dubious milestone, the most for a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987.
Holmes' performance since July 1 has been particularly scrutinized. While the Yankees have gone 19-21 since then, the Orioles haven't fared much better, with a record of 21-22. Holmes himself has faced crucial moments where the game slipped away. He was tagged with a blown save on April 3, surrendered a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners on May 20, and gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5. In the ten games where Holmes has blown a save, the Yankees' record stands at a disappointing 3-7.
Despite these setbacks, not all is grim when it comes to Holmes’ overall contribution. He maintains a respectable 2.82 ERA and boasts an impressive ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings. Having been acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, Holmes' abilities are well-regarded, yet consistency remains an elusive target. Manager Aaron Boone remains optimistic about Holmes’ future outings, stating, “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.”
“I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” Boone remarked, signaling potential changes in bullpen strategy.
Holmes isn't the sole focus of the Yankees' bullpen story. Luke Weaver has emerged as New York’s most reliable reliever this season, bolstering a bullpen that ranks in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added. To further solidify their relief efforts, the Yankees acquired Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. However, Leiter has struggled since donning pinstripes, allowing seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings.
As the Yankees push to overtake the Orioles and secure a solid playoff position, the performance of their bullpen will be under the microscope. Holmes' ability to rebound could be pivotal in the closing weeks of the season. His role, combined with strategic adjustments and contributions from other bullpen arms like Weaver and Leiter, will be essential in determining the Yankees' fate.
The next few weeks promise to unveil whether the Yankees' late-season strategies and bullpen adjustments can carry them through to a successful postseason run. With fans and analysts watching closely, every pitch, every matchup, and every managerial decision will be critical. As Boone rightly puts it, putting players "in places where they match up really well" might just be the key ingredient to navigating the challenges ahead. The team’s resilience and tactical plays will be tested, reflecting the intense nature of the playoff chase in Major League Baseball.