Yankees Bullpen May Be the Weakest Link Headling Toward the Deadline

The Yankees’ bullpen hasn’t broken. But it’s been tested, and the cracks are showing.

Luke Weaver had been the most reliable reliever all year. He led the American League in opponent batting average, WHIP, and ERA before a hamstring strain knocked him out in late June. He’s struggled to regain his rhythm. 

 Devin Williams took over ninth-inning duties, and while the numbers are better, he hasn’t looked like the same guy who shut down games in Milwaukee. He’s shown he’s vulnerable in big spots, which is concerning for a team looking to head back to the World Series. 

That was already the state of things when the injuries really piled up.

Mark Leiter Jr. was one of the few middle-innings arms the Yankees could trust. Then he stepped awkwardly on a base in Cincinnati and landed on the injured list with a stress fracture in his left leg. Fernando Cruz had been flashing legit swing-and-miss stuff with a splitter that fooled just about everyone, but he’s now out with a significant oblique strain.

Jonathan Loaisiga has struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery. 

So the picture has changed. It’s not just a bullpen that needs to tighten things up. It’s a bullpen that’s missing some of the only guys who were actually getting it done.

Right now, the Yankees’ bullpen ERA sits just over 4.00—middle of the pack and nowhere near the elite group they had last year.

It’s no wonder names like David Bednar and Emmanuel Clase are coming up in trade rumors. The Yankees don’t just want to upgrade the bullpen. They have to. Because right now, they’re asking too much from what’s left.

Midseason grade: C+

They’ve survived so far. But the real test is still coming