The Yankees' Bullpen Woes Continue

WEST SACRAMENTO – For the past week, the Yankee Bullpen has been a real weakness of the team.

Heading into the bottom of the 7th inning, The Yankees had a 6-4 lead over the Athletics in Saturdays 11-7 loss, turning the ball over to the Yankees Bullpen. Fernando Cruz allowed 3 runs, all on 1 swing, Ian Hamilton allowed 3 runs and Tyler Matzek (who was mopup patrol) allowed 1 run. That's 7 runs in 2 innings for the Yankees bullpen.

Since May 1st, the Yankees Bullpen ERA is 7.65! They have blown 4 games and almost blew 6 (the other two against San Diego, the Yankees came back to win). For a team like the Yankees with their lack of starting rotation depth, the Bullpen is just super important.

Look, today, Cruz had some tough luck with 2 fly balls that should have been caught, but were not, turning into earned runs that scored on a Homer, that likely would not have happened if those two fly balls were caught. Cruz has been a diamond in the rough for the Yankees, and overall, a solid choice out of the Pen.

Ian Hamilton can account for 5 of the 20 earned runs. He has not been pitching like himself at all. Today, he came in a 1-run game, still a very winnable game for the Bombers, and got a flyout, followed by a single and two walks to load the bases with 1 out. And on the walks, he fully could not find the strike zone. And within this, the surrendered a passed ball and a wild pitch, both going to the backstop advancing runners into scoring position that had no business ending up in scoring position. A similar scenario happened the in his last outing, Wednesday against San Diego where he came on and walked the leadoff batter, got a groundout then gave up another walk. He would be removed from the game and the two runs would score on an RBI single and a Sac Fly off Luke Weaver. Hamilton is not supposed to be a high-leverage guy, but he is pitching himself into some low leverage innings at this rate.

Mark Leiter Jr. is another arm that as been awful this season. He is ALWAYS in the middle of trouble and often looks lost on the mound. Leiter Jr. has given up 2 big runs as well that have costed the team games. And for Leiter Jr, it has not been a case of the May Blues like everyone else, but his issues go deeper through the entire season.

Tim Hill has been giving up some hard contact lately as well, including a homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. two weeks ago. He gave up some hard contact on Wednesday, and with the defense behind him not being sharp, balls are either getting through or finding grass. I have faith that Hill will return to form, though as he has proved that in his time in New York.

Tyler Matzek has not been great for the Yankees thus far, posting a 5.79 ERA in 4.2 innings pitched for the Yankees this season. Every time he is in, it is pretty much a blowout, or the Yankees are giving the game away.

Devin Williams is yet to consistently look like the pitcher the Yankees acquired from the Brewers, though the 3 strikeouts of Tatis, Machado and Bogarts in extra innings on Wednesday were important for him becoming a better pitcher and weapon for the Yankees out of their bullpen.

I am going to keep this short because is ERA is 0.59, but Luke Weaver has allowed more inherited runners to score this week than he has in his past 37 innings of work. He has still only surrendered 1 run this whole season. My one suggestion to the Dream Weaver, with runners on base and less than two outs, use your good strikeout stuff and pitch to the corners. I will also add that his ERA is the highest against the Padres than against any other team.

The good news, help is on the way for the Yankees. Jonathan Loaisiga is on his rehab assignment and has looked like his old self so far, according to Aaron Boone. YES Network put up a graphic showing that he has pitched 5.1 innings in his rehab and has only surrendered one earned run.

Clayton Beeter is also making his rehab at AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre and could be a welcomed addition when he is back healthy. He has pitched 6.2 innings, struck out nine and has given up four runs. Of those four runs, three of them came in his first outing 3 weeks ago and has looked much better since then.

Scott Effross, another option for the Yankees, began his rehab assignment this afternoon with the Patriots and looked sharp.

Hopefully these options provide a stopgap for the Yankees before the trade deadline in July where the Yankees would likely to use their resources to acquire at least one starting pitcher.