As Luke Weaver emerged from the bullpen during Monday’s ALCS opener, Yankees fans chanted “Luuuuuuuuke.” With Cleveland threatening in the eighth, he was called upon for a crucial save. the closer swiftly extinguished the Guardians’ rally, securing a five-out save in the Yankees’ 5-2 victory.
Weaver, who entered the postseason without a single major league save just over a month ago, is now the Yankees’ go-to man in a high-pressure situation. In the eighth inning on Monday, with runners on the corners and only one out and facing two of Cleveland’s top hitters, he struck out David Fry and got Jose Ramirez to ground out, escaping a jam left by Tim Hill.
Weaver maintained his composure in the ninth inning, working around a leadoff walk to Lane Thomas. He proceeded to strike out Josh Naylor, Daniel Schneemann, and Austin Hedges to seal the win. His performance marked his fourth postseason save, making him the first Yankees pitcher since Mariano Rivera in 2009 to achieve that milestone.
His transformation from a struggling starter to the Yankees’ reliable closer has been remarkable, with four postseason saves already in 2024. Pitching coach Matt Blake highlighted how Weaver embraced the pressure and grew into the role, which many pitchers struggle with. He noted that securing the final three outs can be daunting, but Weaver has risen to the challenge, building momentum with each successful outing.
“It’s always nice to see someone go out and do it and build on it,’’ the coach remarked. “You don’t know if someone would run with it. Plenty of guys tried to get the last three outs and have struggled with it. The fact he’s been able to be himself and attack the zone is great to see.’’
Luke Weaver is the Yankees’ most reliable arm
Anthony Rizzo praised Weaver’s steady presence in the closer role, saying the Yankees have gained confidence in his ability to shut the door in tight games.
“He’s been lights out for us ever since he got the ninth inning,’’ the first baseman remarked. “It’s been fun.”
Luke Weaver has proven his ability to handle multi-inning saves, though he admits it can be tough to keep his delivery consistent between the eighth and ninth innings. With the Yankees pushing deeper into the postseason, the pressure on Weaver is expected to ramp up, but so far, he’s shown no signs of backing down.
Weaver has emerged as a crucial piece in a bullpen that has been stellar throughout October. Both he and Clay Holmes have been flawless, with neither allowing a run in the playoffs. Holmes continued that streak in Game 1, delivering a dominant seventh inning after taking over for Carlos Rodon. The Yankees closer had nothing but praise for his fellow reliever, calling Holmes one of the most imposing arms in the bullpen and crediting him with setting a strong example for the entire relief corps.
In his role as closer, Weaver has been lights-out. In his four postseason appearances, he has surrendered just two hits and one walk, striking out nine batters across six innings.
When asked about his ability to maintain this elite level of performance, Weaver expressed confidence in his readiness. But pitching coach Blake added that the staff would carefully monitor his workload to ensure he remains effective.
Blake also pointed to Weaver’s efficiency, noting his 24-pitch outing in Game 1. The Yankees’ approach with Weaver, he said, is to keep the closer focused on attacking the strike zone and staying aggressive, which has worked well so far.
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