Latest news with #closer
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Yankees bullpen battle heating up as Boone stays vague on closer
Yankees bullpen battle heating up as Boone stays vague on closer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Aaron Boone isn't making a bold decision now. Or at least he isn't tipping his hand just yet. With Luke Weaver activated ahead of the Yankees' series opener against the Orioles Friday night, the natural question is whether he'll reclaim his spot as the team's closer. Boone, however, made it clear Friday that no such decision has been made. Advertisement Instead, he told reporters before the game that Weaver will be his closer 'on some nights.' 'We got two elite guys back there," Boone added. Yankees reliever Devin Williams reacts after striking out three in the 10th inning against the Padres at Yankee Stadium.© Brad Penner-Imagn Images That's a different tone than earlier in the season, when Weaver had emerged as the go-to guy in the ninth. The right-hander owns a 1.05 ERA in 25.2 innings and had locked down eight saves before hitting the injured list with a left hip strain on June 3. But while he was sidelined, Devin Williams stepped in — and stepped up. Williams has converted five straight save opportunities since mid-May and has allowed just one earned run over his last 12.1 innings. After a rough start to the year, the right-hander has rediscovered his command and looked every bit the All-Star closer he was in Milwaukee. Advertisement That leaves the Yankees with a 'good' problem to have and plenty for the New York media to speculate about. For his part, Weaver had already put the idea that he would compete against Williams to rest. With both pitchers healthy, the Yankees may opt for a matchup-based approach, at least in the short term. Weaver and Williams have different pitch profiles, and their availability may also factor in, especially with Weaver coming off the injured list after suffering a hamstring issue. So, now it's a bullpen with two closers — and a manager keeping his options open. Or it becomes a daily drama for the New York media. Advertisement With Weaver back and Williams dealing, the formula might change night to night. As long as the last out gets recorded, Boone isn't worried about the label. Related: Who Should Be the Yankees' Closer? Related: Luke Weaver Responds to a Potential Yankees' Closer Controversy This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who Should Be the Yankees' Closer?
Who Should Be the Yankees' Closer? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In his 1979 book, 'The Bronx Zoo,' former Yankees closer Sparky Lyle openly questioned why the team would trade for Goose Gossage prior to the 1978 season, when they already had Lyle as their Cy Young-winning closer. He said having them both would be a headache because neither would get enough work to stay sharp. Plus, the nightly question of who would close would cause ripple effects throughout the bullpen. Advertisement Well, fast forward to 2025 and the Yankees are in a similar quandary. Luke Weaver was their closer during the second half of 2024 and he was excellent in the role. Then, they went out and traded for Devin Williams with the thought that he would be their primary closer in 2025. New York Yankees reliever Devin Williams celebrates after retiring the side against the Mets on May 18, 2025, at Yankee Stadium.© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Now, nobody is confusing Weaver and Williams with Lyle and Gossage from a pedigree standpoint, but the situation is strikingly similar. Early on, Williams struggled; his signature 'Airbender' changeup was not nearly as effective as in years past. So, at the end of April, Weaver regained the closer role while Williams was demoted to setup duties. That worked for a while, but then Weaver hurt his hamstring at the start of June and was placed on the IL, thus thrusting Williams back into the closer's job. Advertisement Since regaining the closer's role, Williams has pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one run, four hits and hitting two batters while striking out eight. But now, Weaver is set to return much sooner than expected, as early as tonight, and Manager Aaron Boone has not revealed who will close games. Boone should look to avoid the same mistake that helped undo Billy Martin's 1978 campaign and instead take a page from Bob Lemon's book when the latter took over for Martin. Go with the guy you traded for. Don't dance back and forth. Keep Williams as the closer and Weaver as the setup man. The only way you don't do that is if their performance dictates a change, or, heaven forbid, another injury takes place. Williams is your guy, just like Gossage was in 1978 and we all know how that turned out. Advertisement Related: Yankees Reliever Jake Cousins Likely Facing Tommy John Surgery Related: Could This Returning Arm Be What Yankees Need to Fix Their Bullpen? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Yankees' Luke Weaver returns: What it means for Devin Williams and the closer role
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees' closer is back. Or is he? The Yankees activated right-handed reliever Luke Weaver (left hamstring strain) from the injured list before the first game of the series against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Friday afternoon. The team cleared room on the roster for Weaver by demoting lefty Jayvien Sandridge late Thursday. Advertisement Weaver threw a simulated game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Weaver's activation likely means a return to the closer's role for the 31-year-old, though manager Aaron Boone was noncommittal about the possibility Thursday. Devin Williams has pitched well in the role since Weaver went on the IL on June 3, posting a 1.59 ERA in six appearances with four saves. But Weaver had taken over the job when Williams was struggling at the start of the season, and not only would it likely be an unpopular decision if Boone were to supplant Weaver, it would be removing a player who was successful when the team needed him. While Williams endured early-season struggles, Weaver was dominant, posting a 1.05 ERA in 24 games with eight saves. Regardless of where he slots in the late innings, adding Weaver will be big for the Yankees' bullpen as a whole. Righty Fernando Cruz hasn't been as effective since returning from the injured list on June 4, posting a 6.35 ERA in seven appearances. Jonathan Loáisiga has also struggled some, though the Yankees believe he'll be a major piece of their late-game formula this year. Mark Leiter Jr. has had the most appearances for the Yankees with a 3.60 ERA in 35 games. 'I mean, it's Luke Weaver,' Boone said Thursday. 'But just then the trickle-down effect that that has, obviously, on giving you more hammers at the back end of the game, especially, and slotting guys into better slots. Anytime you add someone like Luke, it just makes the entire thing better, on top of what he brings.' Weaver transformed into a big-time reliever for the Yankees last season, pitching to a 2.89 ERA in 62 games after spending the first nine years of his MLB career as a starter. He also had a 1.76 ERA with four saves in 12 games in the playoffs last year. Despite the return of Weaver, the Yankees likely will be looking to add to their relief unit at the trade deadline next month. Yankees relievers have just the 10th-best ERA in the majors this season at 3.49. Their strikeout rate is strong at 9.56 per nine innings — the fifth-best in baseball. But they have issued lots of walks (3.87 per nine innings, the 24th-best mark in the game). Advertisement Adding Luis Gil (lat strain) from the injured list at some point around the All-Star break will likely bolster the Yankees' bullpen in addition to their rotation. It would likely mean bumping lefty Ryan Yarbrough from the starting rotation, though he's been good as a starter with a 3.83 ERA in eight starts. Yarbrough has lots of relief experience (136 appearances vs. 76 starts), and the Yankees added him just before Opening Day with the thought he would remain in their bullpen.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orion Kerkering 'Could Be' New Closer For Phillies According to Rob Thomson
Orion Kerkering 'Could Be' New Closer For Phillies According to Rob Thomson originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies have some major question marks in their bullpen. Due to the poor play of Jordan Romano and the 80-game suspension for Jose Alvarado, the Phillies will see a vastly different bullpen down the stretch than they had to start the year. Advertisement One of the biggest changes that could be coming soon is the team's closer, or their 9th inning role. Previously, Romano and Alvarado alternated based on the opposing team's lineup, but after their game against the Miami Marlins, Rob Thomson is considering making a big change. According to an article from Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, the Phillies might be going with Orion Kerkering in the 9th for their closer role going forward. When asked if Kerkering would get more chances to close games, Thomson provided an interesting answer. "Could be," said Thomson. "He's throwing the ball great." This comment from Thomson came after Kerkering, against the Marlins, earned his first save in his career. He pitched a clean bottom of the 9th, bookending a strikeout with two groundouts to secure a 5-2 win. Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson during the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Streicher-Imagn Images On the year, Kerkering has a 2.54 ERA and a 5-2 record. He's pitched 28.1 innings and has struck out 26 batters while walking 16. From how he started the year in April, his numbers have made a massive turnaround. Advertisement In April, Kerkering had a 6.52 ERA while blowing three saves in just 9.2 innings pitched. It was a rough month for Kerkering, but since May, he's been incredible. Since May first, Kerkering has a 0.53 ERA and 15 strikeouts to 10 walks in 17 innings pitched. He earned his first save and notched six holds. Since May 9th, Kerkering hasn't allowed a single earned run. With how great he's been as of late, Thomson is considering making a change in the bullpen to use Kerkering to close out games more often. With Romano and Matt Strahm struggling in 2025, Kerkering might be the Phillies' best reliever. While the team will still likely add a reliever by the MLB trade deadline, for now, it seems likely that Kerkering will be getting more opportunities to close games going forward. It's a big change to the bullpen, but it's one that's been a few years in the making. Advertisement Related: Phillies Get Bad News on Kyle Schwarber Extension Related: Phillies Reportedly Among Most Active Teams Leading up to MLB Trade Deadline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Giants remove Ryan Walker from closer's role, turn back to Camilo Doval
The Giants are moving right-handed reliever Camilo Doval back into the closer's role, manager Bob Melvin told reporters on Wednesday. He'll replace right-hander Ryan Walker, who has been the one struggling reliever in a bullpen that's otherwise been one of the most effective in baseball. Doval has a 1.16 ERA this season in 25 appearances, and he hasn't allowed a home run in 23 1/3 innings. He's allowed three runs this year, all of them coming in two games at the beginning of the season. Since then, he's thrown 18 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and five walks and striking out 18. Advertisement Walker became the closer last August, after Doval struggled with his control and blew multiple saves, and he finished with one of the best relief seasons in Giants history, with 10 wins and a 1.91 ERA, as well as 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. He was hampered this spring training with back issues, though, and he's struggled to find his command and control all season. If there's a bright spot for Walker, there are several statistics that suggest he hasn't been as bad as his 4.95 ERA, from his expected ERA (3.27) to his Fielding Independent Pitching (2.86). His percentage of stranded runners — 57.1 percent — has been one of the worst in baseball, and that's typically not a predictive statistic. On the other hand, Walker's strikeout rate has fallen from 32.1 percent in 2024 to 22.6 percent this season, and both his command and control have been noticeably worse than they were last season. In a bullpen with three relievers (Doval, Randy Rodríguez and Tyler Rogers) with sub-2.00 ERAs, it was getting harder to justify giving him save opportunities. (Photo of Doval: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images)
