NEW YORK — The New York Yankees bullpen reached a new low Wednesday night. The relievers gave up nine earned runs in an 11-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, marking the second straight game they allowed nine runs.
It created unwanted history. For only the third time in more than a century, the Yankees lost back-to-back games by 10 or more runs. The last times came in 1908 and 1988.
“These last two nights have obviously been rough,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Historic collapse spans two devastating nights
The bullpen issues began Tuesday in a 12-2 loss to Detroit. Wednesday’s 11-1 defeat sealed a historic two-game stretch. According to Stathead’s Katie Sharp, it was the first time Yankees relievers gave up nine or more runs in consecutive games.
The only other times the Yankees dropped back-to-back games by double digits were Sept. 26 and 28, 1908, against the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns, and Aug. 27-28, 1988, against the California Angels.
Mark Leiter Jr., Camilo Doval, Tim Hill and Luke Weaver all allowed runs Wednesday. Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith each hit two-run homers off the Yankees bullpen.
Bullpen ERA climbs to concerning levels
The Yankees bullpen now holds a 4.54 ERA for the season. That is down from the 3.62 mark posted by last year’s American League champions. At this pace, the Yankees are on track for their highest bullpen ERA since 1995.
Since the All-Star break, New York relievers have a 5.37 ERA, exposing the group’s lack of depth and consistency.
“We’ve played good teams. We can’t get away with as much mistakes against teams like that,” catcher Austin Wells said. “We’ve put ourselves in holes. I think we’re at our best when we’re getting ahead.”
Individual struggles plague Yankees’ relief staff
Several key arms have slumped.
Luke Weaver has a 5.01 ERA since coming back June 20 from a strained left hamstring. Before the injury, he had a 1.05 ERA in 24 outings.
Leiter has been scored upon in five of his last six appearances. His ERA is up to 5.32.
Hill has allowed runs in three of his last four games. His ERA now sits at 3.14.
Camilo Doval, acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the July 31 trade deadline, owns a 6.59 ERA in 16 outings for New York. The former All-Star closer has yet to find his footing.
Trade moves flop
The Yankees traded for Doval and David Bednar in July to help fix the bullpen. So far, the additions have not delivered.
Devin Williams, a two-time All-Star closer, has a 5.50 ERA. He has given up more earned runs this year than in the previous three seasons combined.
Fernando Cruz has not looked the same since coming off the injured list. He has struck out 11 batters in 7 2/3 innings since returning Aug. 26 from a strained left oblique. Earlier this year, he fanned 54 in 33 innings.
Position player pitches better than relief stars
The only Yankee to avoid allowing a run Wednesday was outfielder Austin Slater. He pitched the ninth inning and got the final two outs.
Slater threw 10 pitches ranging from 36.4 mph to 42.4 mph. His slowest pitch was the slowest recorded by a Yankee in the Statcast era. The previous mark was 38.5 mph by Isiah Kiner-Falefa in 2023.
“I asked him what he wanted to do and he told me he wanted to throw two different pitches,” Wells said. “But then he stuck with a 36 mph pitch that was actually really good, so it worked well.”
Playoff race tightens
The Yankees (80-65) stayed in playoff position despite the blowouts. They hold a slim lead over Boston (81-66) for the top American League wild card.
In the AL East, New York trails Toronto by three games. The Blue Jays have the head-to-head tiebreaker, giving them a bigger edge.
The Yankees still lead the majors with 752 runs and 246 home runs. Their rotation has a 3.67 ERA, fourth best in baseball. These strengths have offset the bullpen’s struggles.
Boone stays defiant
Boone expressed continued faith in his bullpen despite the recent failures. He emphasized the unit’s role in the team’s successful stretch before this series.
“Look, this is two days,” Boone said. “The bullpen has been closing out some really important games for us of late that’s let us go on a pretty good run. These are two nights in a row where we haven’t got it done, but we’re also behind and chasing a little bit.”
The Yankees face a crucial final 17 games of the regular season. Their bullpen performance will likely determine whether they can maintain their playoff position and make a deep October run.
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