New York Yankees Bullpen Struggles Lead to Losing Streak
By Sean Dyer
Tuesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels extended the New York Yankees’ losing streak to a season-long seven games. At the center of their struggles has been the bullpen. How do they get things turned around?
As Cameron Maybin’s home run sailed over the fence in the top of the seventh inning Tuesday night, Yankee fans were left saying, “Here we go again.”
Another game, another loss from the bullpen.
During the Yankees’ seven-game losing streak, the bullpen has been a major letdown.
In those seven games, New York relievers have given up 16 earned runs in 26 innings. For those that don’t have their calculators out, that’s an ERA of 5.54.
New York has either been tied or leading in the sixth inning or later in five of their seven losses.
There have been multiple arms out in the bullpen that have let manager Joe Girardi down.
Giovanny Gallegos took a tough loss last Thursday against the Oakland A’s as a Khris Davis blooper went off Starlin Castro’s glove for a game-winning two-run single.
Despite that bad luck, Gallegos had an ERA of 6.75 during the losing streak and 7.15 on the year.
Gallegos has since been sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and is no longer in New York’s bullpen.
During last Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, we saw the MLB debut of Ronald Herrera. A two-run home run from Andrelton Simmons resulted in Herrera’s demotion back to Double-A Trenton.
Chasen Shreve has been one of Joe Girardi’s most reliable arms out of the pen. However, he hasn’t had his best stuff this past week.
During the Yankees’ recent skid, the lefty has an ERA of 6.00 and took a loss last Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Unlike Gallegos and Herrera, Jonathan Holder has been a rookie reliever that the Yankees have used consistently.
Although Holder has provided New York fans with positive outings for most of the season, he has struggled recently.
Holder has appeared three times in the past seven games. Those outings have resulted in an ERA of 8.31 and a loss last Friday in Oakland.
Despite the struggles of these four relievers, I think most Yankee fans would agree that Tyler Clippard has been the most frustrating arm coming out of the bullpen.
Clippard is the most recent reliever to take a loss for the Yanks, losing Tuesday night in the Bronx after giving up three runs while retiring only one Angel hitter.
During the Yankees’ seven-game losing streak, the setup man has an astronomical 16.88 ERA!
The bullpen’s struggles and the Yankees’ seven-game losing streak have caused New York to fall out of first place in the AL East for the first time in a month.
So what do the Yankees do to get back on top of the division?
Aroldis Chapman’s return from injury should add some stability to the back end of the bullpen.
The flame-thrower and Dellin Betances, who has been unhittable this year with a 0.42 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 21.2 innings, should be able to close out Yankee leads after the seventh inning.
To get the ball to his top two relievers, the first thing Girardi needs to do is limit Clippard’s usage. Clippard’s recent performance has proven that he cannot be trusted in high-leverage situations.
The current setup man should be moved back in the pecking order and pitch in games where the Yankees have a comfortable lead. At least until he proves he can keep baseballs inside the park.
Jonathan Holder has not been at the top of his game lately, but he should stay in his current role.
Holder should continue to pitch in the middle innings when starters don’t get deep into games and be the bridge to the setup men.
This role will be an important one if Masahiro Tanaka continues to struggle and the Yankees continue to look for a C.C. Sabathia replacement.
Although Chasen Shreve has struggled a bit recently, he has a 1.83 ERA on the year.
Shreve has been one of New York’s better relievers for much of the season. He should get a chance to replace Clippard as the Yankees’ seventh-inning man.
Chad Green has pitched well during the losing streak, with an ERA of 2.70. The former starter should take Adam Warren’s role as a do-it-all reliever while Warren is on the disabled list.
Joe Girardi could use Green as a spot starter, long reliever, or even a setup man.
The other member of the Yankee bullpen is Domingo Germán.
Germán has thrown 6.2 scoreless innings thus far in his MLB career. If Germán can limit the baserunners he allows (1.50 WHIP), he may be able to handle late-game appearances.
As it stands now, Germán has at least earned himself more innings out of the pen and possibly a spot start or two.
Although Joe Girardi can sometimes overmanage his bullpen, he is one of the better managers in the MLB. He will get this team back on track.
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If the Yankees can get more depth from their starting pitchers, make a few tweaks to their bullpen, and the offense continues to hit, this team will be back to their winning ways in no time.
Statistics courtesy of MLB.com.