The New York Yankees find themselves in a precarious position as the MLB season advances, holding a record of 73-53 and trailing the Baltimore Orioles by just half a game in the AL East. Despite boasting the third-best record in the league, the Yankees have faced turbulence since July 1, posting a 19-21 record in that span, slightly better than the Orioles' 21-22 run.
One prominent narrative emerging this season is the performance of Clay Holmes, who has found himself leading MLB in blown saves. Holmes' struggles were highlighted in the recent Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians, where his tenth blown save of the season—culminating in a 9-5 defeat in 12 innings—marked the highest by a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987.
Despite these setbacks, Holmes' statistics reveal a pitcher with significant potential for recovery. Holding a 2.82 ERA and a remarkable 67.6% ground ball rate across 40 innings, Holmes has displayed effectiveness in key aspects of his game. Manager Aaron Boone remains optimistic about Holmes' future performances, stating, “He’s been unfortunate. He hasn’t made a pitch in a couple of spots where he could, but based on the way he’s thrown the ball the entirety of this year, really you would expect him to have success moving forward. That’s my expectation.”
Holmes' journey with the Yankees began in 2021 following a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since then, his trajectory has seen both highs and lows. This season alone, Holmes faced critical outcomes: a blown save on April 3, surrendering a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners on May 20, and allowing a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5. The Yankees have struggled in close games where Holmes has faltered, holding a 3-7 record in contests marred by his blown saves.
Complicating matters, the Yankees' bullpen—though ranked in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added—faces heightened scrutiny. Luke Weaver has emerged as the team's most reliable reliever this season, but the bullpen depth remains a concern. The recent acquisition of Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs aimed to bolster the bullpen, but Leiter has allowed seven runs and 23 baserunners over just 9 1/3 innings in pinstripes, adding to the mounting pressure on the Yankees' relievers.
Boone's approach to handling his bullpen, particularly Holmes, underscores the tactical adjustments required during this critical phase of the season. “I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” Boone remarked, indicating a flexible strategy to optimize game outcomes.
As the Yankees navigate the closing weeks of the regular season, their goal remains clear: to overtake the Orioles and solidify a playoff position. The bullpen's performance, especially Holmes' ability to rebound, will be a decisive factor in achieving this objective. Fans will undoubtedly watch closely as the Yankees strive to leverage their talent and resilience in pursuit of postseason success.