In a season filled with ups and downs, the New York Yankees find themselves in a heated race within the AL East, holding a record of 73-53. They sit a mere half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles, striving to overtake the division leaders and solidify their playoff aspirations. As the team looks to finish the season strong, the spotlight has turned intensely toward their bullpen, particularly on Clay Holmes.
Holmes, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, is having a challenging year despite his otherwise solid statistics. With a 2.82 ERA and a remarkable ground ball rate of 67.6% over 40 innings, Holmes has the ingredients to be a dependable reliever. However, he leads Major League Baseball in blown saves, a dubious honor that casts a shadow over his contributions.
The situation came to a head during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians, where Holmes recorded his tenth blown save of the season, the most by a Yankee since Dave Righetti’s 13 in 1987. The Yankees eventually fell 9-5 in 12 innings, a gut-wrenching loss that encapsulates the team’s struggles in high-leverage situations.
“He’s been unfortunate,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented. “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.” Indeed, the numbers suggest Holmes is more competent than his blown saves record might imply, but execution in critical moments remains inconsistent.
Since July 1, the Yankees have gone 19-21, a stretch that has seen its share of bullpen meltdowns and missed opportunities. Conversely, the Orioles have gone 21-22 over the same span, which has prevented the Yankees from losing significant ground. Yet the seesaw battle in the standings highlights the urgency for the Yankees to rectify their bullpen woes if they aspire to postseason success.
The bullpen, however, is not without its bright spots. Setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as New York’s most reliable reliever this season, providing a semblance of stability in late innings. Moreover, the Yankees' bullpen ranks in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added, indicating that the unit is capable of performing at a high level when clicking on all cylinders.
In an effort to bolster the bullpen, the Yankees acquired Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, Leiter has struggled to find his footing, allowing seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes. With the recent acquisition yet to make a significant impact, the pressure mounts on Boone to make strategic decisions about deploying his relievers effectively.
Boone has stated his willingness to adjust roles based on matchups, noting, “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well.” This flexible approach may be key as the Yankees navigate the treacherous waters of the season’s final weeks.
Holmes’ particular struggles have often occurred against left-handed hitters, who have seen more at-bats against him than their right-handed counterparts. Pinpointing and addressing this vulnerability could be crucial as the Yankees aim to shore up their late-game defense.
“His ability to rebound could determine the Yankees’ fate in the closing weeks of the season,” Boone highlighted. Indeed, Holmes’ performance down the stretch will be closely scrutinized as every save opportunity becomes more critical for the Yankees’ playoff chances.
Despite the setbacks, the Yankees remain optimistic, understanding that baseball is, at its core, a game of adjustments. As they cling to playoff hopes, the spotlight will continue to shine on the bullpen, where both accountability and redemption await.