In a season marked by both highs and lows, the New York Yankees find themselves with a record of 73-53, holding the third-best record in the league. Despite their overall solid performance, the Yankees are trailing the Baltimore Orioles by a mere half-game in the tight race for the AL East title.
Yankees' Recent Struggles
The team's performance since July 1st has been underwhelming, posting a 19-21 record. But they aren't alone in their struggles; the Orioles have also faltered, going 21-22 over the same period. This has left both teams in a neck-and-neck battle for supremacy in their division. The setbacks have come from various corners, but none more glaring than the bullpen issues epitomized by Clay Holmes.
Holmes' Tough Season
Clay Holmes has emerged as a point of concern for the Yankees. Leading MLB in blown saves, Holmes has struggled with consistency, despite boasting a respectable 2.82 ERA and an impressive ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings. His latest blown save came during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians, a game that saw the Yankees fall 9-5 in a grueling 12 innings. This marked his tenth blown save, the highest for a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987.
Since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, Holmes has faced high expectations, but this season has proven challenging. Early on, he was hit with a blown save on April 3rd and subsequently surrendered a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners on May 20th. A game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5th further dented his reliability.
Manager's Perspective
Amidst these struggles, Yankees' manager Aaron Boone remains optimistic. "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.
Boone has also indicated his willingness to be flexible with save situations, hinting at a strategy to match pitchers with favorable scenarios. "I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well," Boone remarked. The tactical adjustments could prove crucial as the Yankees look to solidify their playoff position.
Supporting Cast in the Bullpen
Despite Holmes' inconsistency, the Yankees' bullpen as a whole has been ranked in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added. Setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as arguably the most reliable reliever this season, providing a semblance of stability. Further hopes were pinned on Mark Leiter Jr., acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. However, Leiter has allowed seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes, failing to make an immediate positive impact.
Path to Playoffs
As the Yankees push towards the postseason, overtaking the Orioles to clinch the AL East title remains a pressing goal. The ability of Holmes to rebound from his recent troubles could very well determine the Yankees' fate in the crucial closing weeks of the season. With only a half-game separating them from the Orioles, every game counts.
The Yankees have shown they can win, but minimizing late-game slip-ups remains essential. Holmes' performance will be under the microscope as the pressure mounts, but with the support of a mostly reliable bullpen and a flexible managerial strategy, there remains a path to success.
In a season marked by tight margins and high stakes, the Yankees find themselves a team with undeniable talent, yet a task far from simple—turn potential into reality and reclaim their position atop the AL East.