Since August 6, the Yankees are the winningest team (15) and have the best winning percentage (.714) in Major League Baseball. Although they suffered three crushing defeats against Boston, their eternal rival, the Bombers have taken advantage of their matchups against the Twins, Cardinals, Rays, Nationals and White Sox, all of whom are out of the postseason race.
The team’s offense has exploded, especially in long-range hitting. In this period, the New Yorkers lead the Majors with 49 home runs and are the only ones to have surpassed the century mark in walks. Their run differential (+46) is also the best among the 30 teams in the circuit.
Beyond production with the bat, the Yankees have gotten flashes from their top pitchers. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have contributed as the rotation’s frontrunners, Luis Gil has returned to good form from the injured list and rookie Cam Schlittler has been phenomenal. Likewise, Devin Williams’ performance has been noteworthy, as he has found his best form after struggling in the first half of the season.
The closer, who joined from the Brewers last winter, has not allowed a run in his last eight appearances, in which he has struck out 18 of the 25 batters he has faced. Only two hits and one walk have been managed by opposing hitters against the right-hander, who finally looks like the dominant reliever the Yankees were hoping to have in the closing stages of games.
Devin Williams’ ups and downs
Of course, this could be a mirage. Williams already had an eight-game streak without allowing earned runs in May, just after a stormy start to the season. Until May 5, his ERA in 14 appearances was 10.03, with 13 strikeouts, 10 walks, 13 earned runs and 15 runs allowed in just 11.2 innings of work..
In the midst of that crisis, the best version of the fireman emerged, who retired eight games in a row, at a rate of 13 strikeouts and only two walks. Of the 28 batters he faced during that period, only six reached base. That was the starting point of his best stretch as a Yankee, a span of 20 games in which he looked like the star reliever the Bombers needed.
From May 7 to June 27, Williams posted a 1.45 ERA in 18.2 innings, with seven saves, five holds and a pair of wins. In total, he faced 71 opponents and allowed only two walks and three hit batsmen, and only three extra-base hits. There, he seemed to take off as the dominant closer who impressed in Milwaukee, but he fell from grace again.
Between July and the first week of August, his average clean sheets soared to 7.90 in 13.2 innings pitched. In 14 games he had three losses and blew two save opportunities, with four home runs and six extra-base hits to his credit. A monumental disaster.
This performance by Williams, coupled with the slump of Luke Weaver and the injuries to Mark Leiter and Fernando Cruz, forced the Yankees to go to the trade market to acquire the services of David Bednar and Camilo Doval from Pittsburgh and San Francisco, respectively.
Despite all these moves, the Yankees’ bullpen effectiveness in August has been 4.61, with 48 earned runs allowed in 93.2 innings of work. Of the New Yorkers’ 10 losses this month, seven have been by their relievers.
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