Yankees Using Closer-By-Committee for Now

Thursday August 25, 2022

It has not been done in the traditional manner, but it has been successful nonetheless.

The Yankees’ unsettled bullpen has been functioning without a designated closer for some time now, and the question now is how much longer it can do so.

Since the Yankees have won three straight close games, manager Aaron Boone has had to get creative with save opportunities.

Sunday’s win over the Blue Jays required Lou Trivino to pitch 2 ¹/₃ innings. Jonathan Loaisiga pitched 1 ¹/₃ perfect innings against the Mets on Monday. Wandy Peralta extinguished Clarke Schmidt’s ninth-inning fire Tuesday for his second save of the year.

Holmes was having trouble before he went on the injured list with back spasms. The easiest way to bring order to the bullpen would be for the All-Star to return to his closer role when he is healthy.

Aroldis Chapman has again lost high-leverage opportunities, but Loaisiga could help the Yankees. Trivino has been solid (13 baserunners, 1 earned run in 9 innings since arriving from Oakland) and Ron Marinaccio has continued his dominant run without a save.

JP Sears will face Gerrit Cole on Friday, but Frankie Montas won’t (unless the Yankees skip a starter on Wednesday). Sears, traded by the Yankees for Montas, is 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA for the Athletics.

Zack Britton, who had surgery on his UCL, started a rehab assignment with Low-A Tampa on Wednesday. In two-thirds of an inning, he threw 15 pitches and struck out one batter.

On March 30, 2019, the Yankees will host the Giants. The Yankees will visit the Reds, Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals, Rockies, Marlins, Braves, and Pirates on the new balanced schedule. Yankees will play on Memorial Day and July 4 again.

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