Devin Williams set to re-enter as Yankees' closer, but with a supporting cast

Yahoo

19 hours ago

NEW YORK – Luke Weaver's left hamstring injury instantly put Devin Williams back in the ninth inning spotlight.
Provided a two-run cushion against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, Williams gave up a run before saving a 3-2 Yankees' victory at the Stadium - preserving another sharp outing by Carlos Rodon.
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For the most part, it'll be Willams' job to close out Yankees' wins – five weeks after he lost that role in a string of rough outings that swelled his ERA to 11.25.
On to protect a two-run lead after Mark Leiter Jr.'s scoreless eighth inning, Williams needed 30 pitches to navigate the ninth and faced the tying run at second base before Bo Naylor flied out on a 3-2 changeup to end it.
"Really good. I feel confident,'' Williams said of his stuff, and feeling he's "in a good rhythm right now'' as opposed to the early spring, when his struggles forced a switch back to Weaver as the closer.
"I was still figuring it out at the beginning of the year. It's a big adjustment to make, just in life,'' Williams said of his first weeks in the Bronx, where fans routinely reminded him this isn't Milwaukee.
Devin Williams' uneasy ninth inning save
Jun 3, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Williams said he views "the eighth, ninth or seventh'' innings as "the same thing, a high-leverage situation at the end of the game,'' though the ninth has unquestionably been a challenge.
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"Putting myself into advantageous counts and just attacking'' is the intent, though Carlos Santana's one-out double on a 1-2 changeup, Williams' signature pitch, was "a really good at-bat'' won by the veteran.
Two batters later, Daniel Schneemann bounced an RBI ground single to right and stole second, but "I liked his pitch mix, his pitch decisions,'' Boone said after Williams converted his sixth save of the year.
"They took some tough at-bats against him,'' but Williams saved it for Rodon, now 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA over his last nine starts.
'I just know I can get outs and eventually we're going to score a few runs, and defensively all year we've been so great. It makes it easy to pitch,'' Rodon said after yielding a run over seven innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk.
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Before the game, Boone mentioned that Williams has "thrown the ball really well, he's in a really good rhythm'' over the last month, primarily in a setup role.
Entering Tuesday, Williams, 30, had 13 scoreless outings in 15 appearances, though one of those was last Tuesday's shaky save (two runs allowed) in a 3-2 win at Anaheim.
Boone now expects Williams 'to be the dominant guy he's been throughout his career,'' not a surprising take from the ever-optimistic manager, who'll be without Weaver for at least a month and possibly until the All-Star break.
Yankees' ninth inning could be a carousel, too
May 28, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (56) and catcher J.C. Escarra (25) celebrate at the end of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A really sunny take is that the first-place Yankees – so far unchallenged in the AL East – can rebuild Williams' confidence while also having a less-taxed Weaver for the second half and postseason.
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But this doesn't have to be just Williams' show in the ninth.
'Depends who's available that day and who you use to get there,'' Boone said of potentially using Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loaisiga, Tim Hill or the just-activated Fernando Cruz (shoulder) in the ninth.
Maybe that's not technically a closer-by-committee plan, but Williams won't be the only Yankee reliever closing games for the next four-to-six weeks.
After the Dodgers series: Yankees things to watch this week and beyond
Plus, the ever-altering composition of Boone's bullpen is bound to see more change.
On Tuesday, Jake Cousins, a solid bullpen addition last year, just began a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday at Class A Hudson Valley.
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Perhaps right-hander Will Warren or veteran Ryan Yarbrough – excelling now as a starter – winds up in the 'pen, with the Yankees seeking both starters and relievers before the July 31 MLB trade deadline.
Yankees' plan to withstand loss of Luke Weaver
May 22, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
For now, losing Weaver is 'definitely a blow, but one I think we can withstand,'' said Boone, with a collection of relievers capable of getting 'high-leverage, important outs for us.''
That starts with Williams, the two-time NL All-Star with Milwaukee who posted a combined 1.66 ERA over his last three seasons before his December trade to the Bronx.
Of course, Weaver's ascension as a high-end reliever - graduating to closer only last September, after Clay Holmes series of blown saves - comes after posting a 6.78 ERA as a Cincinnati Reds starter in 2023.
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Credit the Yankees' expertise in trading for underperforming or under-utilized arms and converting them into bullpen weapons.
Which is partly why the Yankees don't pay expensive salaries to relievers anymore, almost assuring Williams - earning $8 million in his free agent walk year - will be another team's closer in 2026.
Luke Weaver: "Blindsided'' by hamstring injury
Weaver, 31, is also headed to free agency after this season, with anticipated hefty boost over his current $2.5 million salary.
On Tuesday, Weaver said he was "blindsided'' by the nature of his injury, suffered after warming up for Sunday's ninth inning at Dodger Stadium (he did not pitch in the 7-3 Yankee win).
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"I want to make sure that I'm at full capacity'' before returning, said Weaver. "I know we have six, seven other guys capable of doing the job.''
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Is Devin Williams Yankees closer again after Luke Weaver Injury?