The New York Yankees have turned to a new approach for their closer role after Clay Holmes’ recent struggles, giving veteran reliever Luke Weaver a chance to shine in high-pressure situations.
On Friday against the Chicago Cubs, Yankees manager Aaron Boone handed the ball to Weaver with a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning. Weaver, now in his ninth major league season, delivered a lights-out performance, preserving the shutout by keeping the Cubs hitless and scoreless while striking out two and allowing just one walk. It marked Weaver’s first career save and sealed a critical win for New York.
Reflecting on his big moment, Weaver described the experience as surreal and fueled by adrenaline, soaking in the thrill of his unexpected turn as the team’s closer.
“I couldn’t see straight. I was blacked out for the most part. I was on pure adrenaline, but it was a great time,” an elated Weaver told following the win.
The Yankees’ pitching staff dominated the game, with starter Luis Gil leading the way. Gil was nearly unhittable over six innings, surrendering just one hit while keeping the Cubs off the board. The bullpen continued the trend before Boone called on Weaver to finish the job in the ninth.
Boone highlighted the team’s evolving strategy for the closer role, noting the depth and versatility of their bullpen. While emphasizing that Holmes remains a key asset, Boone expressed confidence in mixing up late-inning matchups and hinted that Weaver could see more save opportunities as the season progresses.
“We’ll just piece it together, best we can. The thing is, we have really good pitchers down there. We’ve just got to get them in the right spots, Clay (Holmes) included. So it was a good day,” the Yankees skipper told.
Weaver, who re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $2 million deal, has been a standout performer this season, boasting a 3.28 ERA, 0.973 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts across 74 innings, with an ERA+ of 126.
The Yankees’ pivot to a more flexible closer setup comes on the heels of Holmes’ league-high 11th blown save, which occurred earlier in the week against the Texas Rangers. Holmes entered that game with a 4-3 lead but struggled, loading the bases before surrendering a walk-off grand slam to Wyatt Langford.
Despite earning his second All-Star nod this season, Yankees closer Clay Holmes has encountered a turbulent 2024 campaign. Holmes has shown a mix of highlights and hurdles, posting a 2-5 record with a 3.27 ERA, 1.327 WHIP, and a strong strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine innings. His ERA+ of 128 over 57 appearances reflects an above-average performance, but inconsistency has marred his role as the team’s closer.
Initially, manager Aaron Boone stood by Holmes, even after the reliever’s tenth blown save. However, with the Yankees locked in a tight race with the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East crown, Boone was prompted to reassess his closer strategy amid mounting missed opportunities.
The Yankees have now adopted a flexible approach to the ninth inning, exploring various closing options. While Holmes isn’t ruled out for a potential return to the role, the team is also evaluating the possibility of moving a starter into a bullpen spot as the playoff push intensifies.
Heading into Friday, the Yankees trailed the Orioles by half a game in the division but maintained a five-game cushion over the Minnesota Twins for the top AL Wild Card position. A 23-20 record since the All-Star break has the team in fourth place in the latest MLB Power Rankings.
Frank Cashman forays into Yankees’ game plan
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman gave a frank assessment of the team’s recent struggles, particularly against non-contending opponents, admitting that their current level of play falls short of expectations. Cashman stressed that this sentiment is shared across the organization as the Yankees face a crucial juncture in their season.
Speaking just before the Yankees‘ series against the Cubs, who are hovering near the fringes of the National League wild-card race, Cashman underscored the urgency of the moment. He acknowledged that pressure has been building for some time, with the Yankees just behind the division-leading Baltimore Orioles. He emphasized the team’s primary goal of capturing the American League East crown, noting that while the objective remains attainable, it will demand significant effort and consistency.
“I don’t think we’re playing up to our abilities recently,’’ he told at Wrigley Field. “I think everybody would acknowledge that. It’s been crunch time. The ultimate goal is to win the American League East first and foremost and we have a shot to do that. But we’ve got work to do.’’
Addressing the situation with closer Clay Holmes, Cashman defended the reliever’s abilities, arguing that Holmes’ high tally of blown saves doesn’t fully capture his overall performance. He explained that the decision to alter the closer role stemmed from Holmes’ recent difficulties, including a pivotal loss to Texas.
Despite the recent closer shuffle, Cashman did not dismiss the idea of Holmes reclaiming his role in the future, emphasizing that Holmes will continue to be counted on in key moments, as Boone determines the best matchups going forward.
The Yankees GM weighed in on the recent returns of Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil to the rotation, noting Schmidt’s scheduled start on Saturday after recovering from a lat strain. Cashman acknowledged the possibility that one or both pitchers could shift to bullpen roles as the season advances and potentially into the postseason.
He pointed out that the Yankees currently have a surplus of starters, with six pitchers competing for five rotation spots. The GM added that Nestor Cortes would be available out of the bullpen on Saturday and noted that the team plans to operate with a six-man rotation temporarily before finalizing the pitching staff’s makeup.
Cashman indicated that decisions regarding potential Yankees bullpen reassignments would evolve naturally, with final roles to be determined as the season progresses.
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