NEW YORK — Devin Williams’ struggles have become an easy target for frustrated Yankees fans. The All-Star closer, acquired to lock down the ninth inning, has faltered in a series of high-leverage spots, most recently in Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Astros in 10 innings.
But the truth is Devin Williams’ problems are just one piece of a larger puzzle. The Yankees’ stagnant offense and inconsistent rotation have left little margin for error, forcing the bullpen — and Williams in particular — into pressure-packed situations with slim room for mistakes.
The Yankees have dropped six of their last seven and are just 19-30 since June 13, a slide that has turned a comfortable playoff position into a fight for survival. They hold a half-game lead over Cleveland for the final American League wild card spot, with Texas just one and a half games back.
Williams’ numbers tell the Yankees story
Williams’ recent outings have been a far cry from the dominance he showed earlier in the year. His ERA has swelled to 5.73, with runs allowed in five straight appearances. In the loss to Houston, he entered in the 10th and surrendered a go-ahead RBI single before giving up a two-run homer that sealed the Yankees’ fate.
This marked the third time in four games that Williams was called upon in the ninth inning or later, and each time he failed to secure the result. Earlier in the week, against Texas, he allowed the decisive runs after entering with the game on the line.
The right-hander’s control has wavered, his strikeout rate has dipped, and hitters have been making harder contact. What was expected to be a lockdown weapon in tight games has instead become a recurring vulnerability.
Offensive drought compounds pressure
The Yankees’ offensive malaise has made Williams’ job even harder. In Friday’s loss, Ben Rice’s first-inning double was the lone baserunner through the first five frames as Astros starter Hunter Brown retired 14 straight.
A brief spark came in the sixth with RBI singles from Rice and Aaron Judge to tie the game, but the lineup again went quiet in the late innings. Over their past 12 games, nine have been decided by two runs or fewer — a reflection of how often the bullpen is asked to protect razor-thin margins.
When the offense fails to produce, every mistake by a reliever is magnified. For Williams, that means pitching in must-win scenarios where a single hit can erase an entire night’s work from the staff.
Rotation instability creates ripple effects
Injuries and inconsistency in the rotation have also added to the strain. With Gerrit Cole out for the season and Luis Gil only recently returning from a long injury layoff, manager Aaron Boone has been left piecing together starts from a mix of rookies and veterans.
Cam Schlittler, making his fifth major league start Friday, allowed two runs over five innings but had to work around seven hits and a walk. His effort, combined with a run-saving throw from Cody Bellinger in the fourth, kept the game close. But like many Yankees starters this season, he did not pitch deep enough to give the bullpen a breather.
Short outings have pushed Williams and his fellow relievers into more frequent and extended appearances, sometimes on back-to-back days. That increased workload has made it harder for the closer to maintain sharpness and velocity.
History offers perspective
Williams’ struggles are not without precedent in the Bronx. Yankees closers from Steve Karsay to Aroldis Chapman have had stretches where inconsistent offense and overtaxed rotations left them exposed. In each case, team-wide issues amplified individual shortcomings.
Earlier in his career with Milwaukee, Williams thrived when working with fresh arms and a balanced lineup. This year’s Yankees have rarely given him that luxury, often requiring perfection just to stay alive in games.
Looking ahead
For Williams to regain his form, the Yankees will need to provide more run support and length from the rotation. Boone has indicated there are no plans to remove him from high-leverage work, but the manager acknowledged the importance of putting him in spots where success is more likely.
The schedule offers little relief, with upcoming games against contenders that will test both the lineup and the pitching staff. If the offense can break free from its slump and the starters can carry more innings, Williams has the track record to rebound.
Until then, his performance will remain tied to the fortunes — and failures — of the team around him.
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