Yankees Facing Devin Williams Decision After Friday's Roster Moves
High-leverage reliever Jonathan Loáisiga is being activated off the 15-day injured list along with right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter. Although the latter was immediately optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Advertisement
Left-handed pitcher Tyler Matzek was designated for assignment to free up a roster spot for Loáisiga.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams on the mound at Yankee Stadium.Brad Penner-Imagn Images
While Loáisiga and his career 3.44 ERA is no doubt a great development for the Yankees, his presence only fuels the uncertainty surrounding the role of big-name trade acquisition and former closer Devin Williams.
After a shaky start that included 4 saves, 2 losses and an ERA over 10.00, the Yankees demoted Williams into more of a set-up and/or high-leverage role.
Luke Weaver took over the closer duties from that point on, allowing Williams to settle in a bit. Since late April, Williams has entered the game in the seventh or eighth inning more often than not, and he's already got 3 holds to show for it.
Advertisement
Williams has also lowered his ERA to 8.36 as of May 16, and he's generally been much more effective outside of a 3-run outing against the San Diego Padres on May 5.
Still, you have to wonder if Yankees manager Aaron Boone will quickly favor Loáisiga over Williams once the former gets himself back up to speed.
There's something comforting about familiarity, and pitchers like Weaver and Loáisiga have already earned the trust of the Yankees skipper.
Despite his long and successful history with the Milwaukee Brewers, Williams has done nothing to win Boone's confidence in New York. Until he does, it's difficult to predict what sort of role he'll play moving forward.
Related: Recent Yankees Reliever Lands MLB Opportunity With Red Sox
Related: Aaron Boone Calls Juan Soto 'a Killer' Ahead of Yankees-Mets Showdown
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees 1B Paul Goldschmidt has a right knee sprain and may go on IL
NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt has a low-grade right knee sprain and the New York Yankees may place the veteran first baseman on the injured list ahead of his return to St. Louis this weekend. The Yankees will evaluate Goldschmidt during their day off and will decide before Friday's game against the Cardinals if he will be placed on the IL. 'He's dealing with something so we'll see if it's an IL situation,' manager Aaron Boone said after Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Minnesota. 'He was pretty sore last night and this morning. Feels like he's doing quite a bit better right now so we'll see.' Goldschmidt was injured chasing down a foul pop by Byron Buxton in the third inning of Tuesday's 9-1 victory. Goldschmidt overran the ball along the dirt track near the Yankee dugout and slipped before making the catch on the grass while slightly falling down. 'When I kind of overran it and dove back, hit my knee on the ground I guess,' Goldschmidt said. 'I felt that it was sore yesterday but obviously was able to play through it.' Goldschmidt stayed in Tuesday's game and hit a double in the seventh before being lifted with the Yankees holding an eight-run lead. 'As I was going to going back to my position, I was like 'that kind of hurt,' but stuff like that happens,' Goldschmidt said. 'So just felt like I could continue to play, which I did and it was fine.' Goldschmidt, who is hitting .404 off left-handed pitching this year, did not start Wednesday and did not pinch hit when Austin Wells batted and struck out against left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk in the seventh. Signed to a one-year, $12.5 million contract in December following six seasons with the Cardinals, the former NL MVP is hitting .276 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs in 112 games this season. He also has a .996 fielding percentage and has been charged with three errors in 745 chances this year. Ben Rice made his 26th start at first base Wednesday and Cody Bellinger has made two starts at first this season. Bellinger has started 273 games at first base during his nine-year career. 'He's been a huge part of his team,' Bellinger said about Goldschmidt. 'He's a vacuum over there. I played first before and I'm really appreciative what he does on the defensive side.' ___ AP MLB:
San Francisco Chronicle
9 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Michael Harris II's grand slam caps 9-run fourth as Braves rally to beat Mets 11-6
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Harris II hit a grand slam Wednesday night to cap Atlanta's biggest inning in almost five years — a nine-run outburst in the fourth that propelled the Braves to an 11-6 comeback win over the slumping New York Mets. The Braves fell behind 6-0 in a game delayed 95 minutes by rain before storming back against David Peterson and Reed Garrett (3-5). Peterson issued four free passes in the fourth, including a bases-loaded walk of Nick Allen, and gave up Jurickson Profar's three-run double before Marcell Ozuna greeted Garrett with an RBI single. Three batters later, Harris hit a 417-foot homer to straightaway center. The nine-run inning was the biggest for the Braves since Sept. 9, 2020, when they scored 11 times in the second inning of a 29-9 win over the Miami Marlins. Ozuna hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Aaron Bummer (2-2), the first of five Braves relievers to follow Carlos Carrasco, tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Carrasco gave up six runs in two innings. Pete Alonso had a two-run single and Cedric Mullins lofted a sacrifice fly in the first before Juan Soto hit a 407-foot, two-run homer and Jeff McNeil had an RBI double in the second. Peterson surrendered a season-high six runs over a season-low 3 1/3 innings. The Mets have lost 12 of 14. Harris' grand slam was his first since last Aug. 14. Key stat The Mets gave up at least nine runs in an inning for the ninth time in franchise history and the first since Apr. 16, 2019, when the Philadelphia Phillies scored 10 runs in the first inning of a 14-3 win. Up next The three-game series concludes Thursday night, when Mets RHP Kodai Senga (7-4, 2.30 ERA) opposes Braves RHP Bryce Elder (4-9, 6.12). ___
Washington Post
10 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Michael Harris II's grand slam caps 9-run fourth as Braves rally to beat Mets 11-6
NEW YORK — Michael Harris II hit a grand slam Wednesday night to cap Atlanta's biggest inning in almost five years — a nine-run outburst in the fourth that propelled the Braves to an 11-6 comeback win over the slumping New York Mets. The Braves fell behind 6-0 in a game delayed 95 minutes by rain before storming back against David Peterson and Reed Garrett (3-5). Peterson issued four free passes in the fourth, including a bases-loaded walk of Nick Allen, and gave up Jurickson Profar's three-run double before Marcell Ozuna greeted Garrett with an RBI single.
