Yankees Bullpen Shines in ALCS Despite Unstructured Closer Roles

The Cleveland Guardians witnessed an impressive display from the New York Yankees‘ bullpen in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), where manager Aaron Boone opted for relief pitchers early, pulling starter Gerrit Cole in the fifth inning. The Yankees bullpen allowed just one run over 4 2/3 innings, showcasing their depth.

Throughout the postseason, the Yankees’ bullpen has consistently performed under pressure. In six games, they have allowed only three runs, two of which were earned, across 23 1/3 innings, maintaining a WHIP of 0.857. This performance has compensated for the relatively short outings by starting pitchers.

The standout contributors to the Yankees’ bullpen success have included relievers Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes, and Tommy Kahnle, who have each achieved critical outs in tense situations. Clay Holmes, notable for his playoff record of 14 2/3 scoreless innings in 12 career appearances, highlighted the historical significance of the Yankees’ bullpen, saying, “There’s a lot of history here with really good teams, and the bullpens have been a big part of that.”

The team’s efforts have drawn comparisons to the formidable Yankees bullpens of past championship teams. Former Yankee Jeff Nelson, who was part of the bullpen that secured four World Series titles in five years, praised the current relievers’ ability to adapt to various roles efficiently. “No one can compare to Mo,” Nelson remarked, referring to legendary closer Mariano Rivera, “but it’s pretty remarkable what these guys are doing.”

Narrating the adaptation of players like Holmes and Weaver, Nelson pointed out how the absence of a set closer role has led to multiple pitchers performing at high levels. “The fact they didn’t have a set closer late in the year, with Holmes, Kahnle and even Hill and Cousins filling in a lot of roles,” Nelson noted, emphasizes the adaptability of the bullpen.

Bullpen coach Mike Harkey, who has been with the team since their last World Series win in 2009, compared Weaver’s postseason performance to Mariano Rivera, noting Weaver’s four saves this October. “He’s been one who’s really taken to the old Mariano adage, where if he’s going to be a closer or a late-inning, high [leverage] relief pitcher for the Yankees, he’s going to have to have a short memory,” Harkey said.

Despite limited lengths from starters, the Yankees relievers have successfully managed their tasks, showing the “certain mentality to pitch well this time of year,” according to Nelson. The bullpen has managed to thrive despite the constraints of mandatory three-batter minimums for pitchers, a recent rule change in baseball.

Holmes reflected on the shared confidence within the bullpen, stating, “We feel like everyone is confident in us down there and they all feed off of it. You scratch some runs up early and let us finish. It’s working so far.”