The New York Yankees pulled off a win on Sunday night after losing their best bullpen weapon to an injury and that might have to serve as their template for the next few weeks.
While warming up during the team’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, closer Luke Weaver felt a hamstring strain that is now expected to keep him out for an extended period.
“The New York Yankees could be without their top reliever for more than a month,” per Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. “(The bullpen) has been a solid unit overall, though Weaver is their steadiest arm and Boone’s most trusted reliever, and those guys are hard to replace. The Yankees will have to get by without him for a month or so.”
In the absence of Weaver, the Yankees have several other options for the highest-leverage situations. Up until now, they’ve had Devin Williams and Jonathan Loaisiga in setup roles, with Fernando Cruz returning from his own injury for a similar one. Then Ian Hamilton, Brent Headrick, Tim Hill and Mark Leiter Jr. have all played middle relief roles, with Clayton Beeter, Yerry De Los Santos and Scott Effross as depth options.
Among all of those arms, there have been some questions about who the Yankees might appoint as the new closer in Weaver’s absence. And SNY’s Andy Martino has now reported that Williams will get most of the chances to fill in with Loaisiga and Cruz likely to fill in as well.
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“Williams will get the bulk of the save opportunities going forward but the Yankees and Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake know that they have some other options and guys that are perfectly capable of getting those last outs of the game, from Jonathan Loaisiga to Fernando Cruz to others,” Martino said in a TikTok post.
Williams opened the season as the Yankees’ closer after arriving via trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, but he struggled mightily and was relegated to a setup role. It seems he will get the chance to earn back a closer position with Weaver out.
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