The New York Yankees seemed likely to field one of the sport’s best offenses when it became clear they would return this season with most of their roster from last year intact.
And, just like last season, the team has been a Major League Baseball leader in total home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage. But more surprising has been the team’s dominant pitching staff, which is preparing to welcome significant reinforcement this week.
“Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, sidelined since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, will make his season debut Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays,” Jorge Castillo reported for ESPN. “Cole will join a rotation with the fourth-best ERA in the majors entering Tuesday led by Cam Schlittler, who made his major league debut during Cole’s absence and holds the best ERA in baseball in his first full major league season.”
New York Yankees Closer David Bednar Could Be Replaced Amid Struggles
But while the Yankees’ starting pitching staff has enjoyed a strong season so far, even without Cole, its bullpen counterparts haven’t been so successful.
The team has few high-leverage relievers that manager Aaron Boone can trust in the ninth inning, and that was on display during the team’s Tuesday win against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Camilo Doval was called upon to fill in for go-to closer David Bednar, who had struggled in back-to-back outings against the Blue Jays and New York Mets. Doval nearly lost the game and Bednar, who has a 5.14 ERA so far this season, might not be the team’s long-term closer answer either.
“Now the Yankees are seeing the real Bednar, who has a 5.14 ERA and 1.62 WHIP,” Bob Klapisch wrote for NJ.com. “He has allowed at least one baserunner in 16 of his 21 appearances. There have been at least two baserunners in 10 of those appearances.”
New York Yankees Expected To Move Trade Acquisition To Bullpen
But with Cole coming back and the injured Max Fried not far behind him, the Yankees could look to supplement their relief corps with some surplus from the rotation. And that might soon mean replacing Bednar with high-octane starter Ryan Weathers in the closer spot.
“Weathers will eventually be moved to the bullpen once Max Fried comes off the injured list, which makes him a candidate to replace Bednar,” Klapisch added.
Weathers became the Yankees’ latest significant trade addition in January, when the team acquired him in a five-player deal with the Miami Marlins. He has a 3.58 ERA in nine starts with the Yankees so far, but he has never reached 100 total innings in any of his six big-league seasons, suggesting he could benefit from a move to the bullpen.
And as Bednar and Doval struggle to close out games, it seems like the Yankees could benefit from such a move as well.