Luke Weaver’s Struggles Shape Yankees ALDS Roster Decisions

Highlights:

• Luke Weaver’s collapse in the Wild Card opener is Boone’s biggest question
• David Bednar and Devin Williams are the late-inning anchors
• Camilo Doval and Weaver are question marks.
• Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. form a bridge.
  
  

Luke Weaver was the story of the New York Yankees’ Wild Card opener for all the wrong reasons. Handed a one-run lead in the seventh inning of Game 1 , he gave it right back on a walk, a double, and a two-run single. 

It wasn’t just a bad night. It was Weaver’s fourth shaky outing in six appearances, the kind of stretch that forces hard October questions. Can the Yankees still trust Weaver in the middle of a postseason series?

That decision will be critical for the Yankees as they face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series.  The Yankees will have to decide whether to lean on a struggling veteran or shift the mix, which could determine how New York builds the rest of its bullpen against a Blue Jays lineup that thrives on mistakes.

The Late-Inning Core

David Bednar has emerged as Boone’s closer. Untested in Pittsburgh, he’s shown he can handle the pressure in the wild-card round.  He was dominant against Toronto in September, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings across back-to-back saves while striking out three. Devin Williams remains the primary setup man. He did blow a game at Rogers Centre in July, but came back with a clean hold in the final game of the season series. If he commands his changeup, Boone can still hand him the ball in the eighth.

The Weaver Question

Weaver was the man in the Yankees' run to the World Series last year. He has been one of Boone’s go-to relievers all year, throwing 68 innings across 61 appearances. He posted a 3.62 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP, but those steady season numbers hide the recent slide. In September and into October, Weaver has been tagged for runs in four of his last six outings, including the collapse against Boston.

This is not the first time Boone has faced this dilemma. In past Octobers, he leaned on Clay Holmes in 2024 even after injuries and inconsistencies. If a reliever is part of his circle of trust, Boone rarely walks away in October. That history suggests Weaver will be on the roster — and still in the mix for important innings — whether fans like it or not.