The New York Yankees find themselves embroiled in a competitive battle within the American League, holding a record of 73-53 as of the latest standings. Despite their strong overall performance, they sit a mere half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East, holding the third-best record in the league. This tight race has seen both teams swapping the top spot multiple times over the past several weeks, showcasing the intensity of the competition.
Since July 1, the Yankees have struggled to maintain consistent form, going 19-21, while the Orioles have fared slightly better at 21-22. A significant factor in this uneven performance has been the bullpen issues plaguing both teams. Particularly concerning for the Yankees is the performance of their closer, Clay Holmes. Holmes leads MLB in blown saves, with his latest coming during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians, where the Yankees eventually fell 9-5 in 12 innings. This marked Holmes' tenth blown save, the highest for a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987.
Manager Aaron Boone has had to grapple with this recurring problem, acknowledging Holmes' struggle but remaining optimistic about his overall performance. “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,” Boone commented. With Holmes sporting a 2.82 ERA and a ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings, Boone’s faith isn't misplaced. Holmes has consistently been a premier ground-ball pitcher since his acquisition from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021.
The Yankees' woes in closing out games are further compounded by several notable incidents. Holmes was hit with a blown save on April 3 due to an error by Anthony Volpe and an infield single that allowed an automatic runner to score in the tenth inning. On May 20, he surrendered a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners, and on July 5, he gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida. Most recently, in the Little League Classic, it was the Detroit Tigers who capitalized on his faltering performance. These costly slips have contributed to a 3-7 record for the Yankees in games where Holmes has blown a save.
Troublingly, Holmes has faced more left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters, a point of strategic concern as the Yankees recalibrate their bullpen roles. Despite his setbacks, the Yankees bullpen has generally performed well, ranked in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added. However, in high-leverage situations, consistency has been wanting.
Adding another layer to the bullpen narrative, setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as New York’s most reliable reliever this season. In a bid to bolster their relief corps, the Yankees acquired Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. While Leiter offers potential, his initial outings have been rocky, having allowed seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes. This inconsistency underscores the pressing need for stability in the bullpen as the Yankees eye the critical final stretch of the season.
Aaron Boone, tasked with navigating these turbulent waters, has indicated a flexible approach to late-game assignments. “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” he remarked. This strategic openness aims to leverage matchups favorably, compensating for Holmes’ unpredictability while likely giving more opportunities to the likes of Weaver and other emerging arms in the bullpen.
With the standings so finely balanced, every game takes on heightened significance for the Yankees. Maintaining their form and securing crucial victories will be essential if they are to overtake the Orioles and solidify their playoff position. The spotlight remains on Boone’s management of the bullpen, and especially on Holmes, whose ability to rebound could well determine the Yankees' fate as the pressure mounts in the closing weeks of the season.