New York Yankees: Bullpen Woes Continue in the Bronx

The New York Yankees have been playing horribly as of late, and a lot of that has to do with their bullpen, which can’t seem to hold a lead.

The New York Yankees win on Saturday afternoon against the Mets broke a seven-game losing streak, giving them a 17-13 record on the season, and preventing an eight-game losing streak which would’ve been the first time they lost eight in a row since 1995.

The Yankees are the only team in Major League Baseball who haven’t lost eight games in a row since 2007, and they almost broke that streak on Saturday afternoon.

The Yankees bullpen has been HORRENDOUS as of late, and it is costing them games. In each of the two games Friday afternoon during the double-header, the starter left the game with a lead, but the Yankees went onto lose both of them, because of the bullpen.

In game one it was Chad Green who let the Mets back in as he allowed three home runs to the first five batters he faced, totaling five runs and turning the Yankees’ 4-1 lead into a 6-4 deficit just like that, and that would go onto be the final score.

In game two it was Nick Nelson and Aroldis Chapman who allowed the Mets to come back. Jonathan Loaisiga left the game after three innings pitched, with a 3-1 lead, unfortunately, the game would end with a final score of 4-3, and yet another Yankees loss.

On Saturday it was no different, J.A. Happ pitched a phenomenal game allowing zero runs on only three hits through 7.1 innings pitched. Then, he was taken out in the eighth and sure enough, the first batter Adam Ottavino faced, hit a 375 foot home run to left and the Yankees were tied, just like that.

Luckily, the Yankees would go onto win on a walk-off wild pitch, but that’s besides the point. The Yankees’ bullpen has been at an all-time low, and it is losing them games because of it.

Would it be nice to have more than one or two runs of support? Sure it would, but that’s besides the point. The Yankees have so much talent in their alternate site team, and they haven’t made any moves to help potentially improve the bullpen.

One player I believe is ready to be called up is Clarke Schmidt. Schmidt was INCREDIBLE in the Yankees’ intrasquad games in July, and yet he still hasn’t made his MLB debut. With all the injuries and suspensions on the starting pitching staff, one would’ve thought he would be playing in the Bronx by now, but that isn’t the case.

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Once Schmidt is called up, Aaron Boone will have more options in the pen as he will be able to move a starter back, to make room for Schmidt. The starter who would likely be moved back to the pen is Jonathan Loaisiga.

Loaisiga has appeared in seven games this season, three of them being starts. Although he holds a record of 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA, he has only gone for 16.0 innings between his seven appearances, 8.1 of them being in his three starts.

This being said, whenever Loaisiga enters the game, you know it likely won’t be for more than three innings at the most. This means he would be a great addition to the bullpen, thus making room for Schmidt.

Next. New York Yankees: Luke Voit is the Spark the Yankees Need. dark

Overall, the Yankees bullpen has been horrendous, and if they don’t improve drastically, and quick, things could get really ugly, really fast.

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