Yankees Insider Predicts Postseason Bullpen Without Two Big Names

The Yankees could be headed for an October bullpen shakeup.

NJ.com’s Max Goodman projected New York’s playoff relief corps this week and left two notable names off the list: Mark Leiter Jr. and Camilo Doval. Goodman slotted in eight arms: David David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, Cam Cam Schlittler and Will Warren. It’s a mix that balances veteran leverage options with two rookies and a swingman.

That construction would leave Leiter, Doval, Jake Bird, Yerry De Los Santos, Ian Hamilton and Brent Headrick on the outside. For Doval and Bird, that would mean the Yankees front office admitting mistakes made at the trade deadline, but neither has impressed. Doval has been erratic since arriving from the Giants, showing flashes of his All-Star arsenal but not enough command. Bird, meanwhile, was shipped to Triple-A after a rough debut stretch in pinstripes.

Leiter’s case is different. 

He was a useful piece in last year’s playoff run, logging three scoreless innings over four World Series appearances. That experience made him one of the more trusted arms in October a year ago. But recent struggles have chipped away at that trust, leaving his roster spot in question. Leiter, who suffered a stress fracture in his leg, . has taken a step back from his steady 2024 form, going 5–7 with a 5.20 ERA, 52 strikeouts and a 1.56 WHIP in 45 innings over 56 games this season.

Goodman added that Doval could still pitch his way back into the picture with a strong finish to September. Doval owns a 3.77 ERA with 66 strikeouts, 16 saves and a 1.35 WHIP in 62 innings across 65 appearances overall in 2025, but since joining the Yankees at the deadline he has struggled, posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 17.2 innings over 18 appearances.

For now, though, the Yankees seem more likely to lean on their trade-deadline headliners, their rookies, and a long reliever like Yarbrough to navigate October’s innings.

Leaving behind one of last October’s reliable hands and one of this summer’s headline acquisitions off the playoff roster is surprising. But the bullpen picture remains fluid, and the Yankees have a few weeks left to see who grabs the final spots.