The New York Yankees are in the midst of a highly competitive AL East race, currently holding a record of 73-53. They trail the Baltimore Orioles by just half a game and possess the third-best record in the league. Despite this, the Yankees have endured a rough stretch since July 1, posting a 19-21 record while the Orioles have gone 21-22 in that same span.
One of the critical storylines for the Yankees this season has been the performance of closer Clay Holmes. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, Holmes has had a notable impact on the mound but has struggled with consistency in save situations. He leads Major League Baseball in blown saves, with his most recent one occurring during the Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians. This game saw the Yankees fall 9-5 in 12 innings.
Holmes' ten blown saves mark the highest for a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987. Despite these struggles, Holmes maintains a respectable 2.82 ERA and an impressive ground ball rate of 67.6% across 40 innings. Manager Aaron Boone has expressed confidence in Holmes, despite the recent setbacks. “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 stated.
Nevertheless, Holmes' inconsistencies have been costly. The Yankees hold a 3-7 record in games where he has blown a save. Holmes has faced a variety of challenging situations this season, from surrendering a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners on May 20 to giving up a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5. Boone has indicated a flexible approach to the bullpen strategy moving forward: “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” he remarked.
Despite Holmes' struggles, the Yankees' bullpen has been a strong point overall, ranking in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added. Setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as one of the most reliable relievers this season, providing a crucial bridge to the closing innings. Additionally, the Yankees acquired Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline, though Leiter’s performance has been mixed, allowing seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes.
The Yankees' bullpen performance will be pivotal as they aim to overtake the Orioles and solidify their playoff position. Holmes' ability to rebound could very well determine the Yankees' fate in the closing weeks of the season. The team’s success or failure may hinge on whether Holmes can convert his remaining save opportunities and mitigate the damage that has plagued him in previous outings.
As the season progresses, the Yankees must strive for consistency, both offensively and defensively. The razor-thin margin in the AL East race underscores the significance of every game, every inning, and particularly every save opportunity. Holmes, along with the rest of the bullpen, holds a critical role in ensuring the Yankees' postseason aspirations come to fruition.