Yankees fans might have been puzzled when Devin Williams was called upon to pitch eight innings of a scoreless game on Tuesday night. Just a day earlier, manager Aaron Boone had used Williams to close out Monday’s series opener against the Rangers. Williams had given up a key home run to Joc Pederson, which led to the Yankees losing that game in the final innings. So, why did Boone entrust Williams with another high-pressure situation amid a four-game losing streak?
Boone explained after the game, “We had Warren pitching well through five innings, so I liked having him in the middle along with a few right-handers. Obviously, I couldn’t finish it myself.” Warren delivered five scoreless innings, but Boone then turned to Camilo Doval and Luke Weaver to hold the Rangers scoreless through the sixth and seventh innings. Unfortunately, Williams couldn’t keep Texas off the board in the eighth. After retiring Marcus Semien, he gave up a double to Adolis Garcia and then a double to Jasson Dominguez. Following a walk to Pederson, he loaded the bases with Wyatt Langford at bat. Even though Boone had recently activated Mark Leiter Jr. from the IL and had David Bednar warming up, he decided to stick with Williams. Sadly, Rowdy Tellez then broke through with a two-run single on 10 pitches, giving the Rangers the lead.
Boone said, “I was probably going to go to Bednar for the four-out save to shorten the game, but the Rangers were in a spot they haven’t been in for a while and trying to extend it.” Williams, reflecting on his outing, said, “Just keep working and try to help the team as much as I can.”
This season, Williams has allowed 26 runs in total. The Yankees rookie has had a rollercoaster year, allowing 15 runs between March and May and losing his closer role to Weaver. When Weaver got injured, Williams reclaimed his spot and performed well through June, giving up just one run in 10 appearances. However, in his last four outings, he allowed six runs over 3.2 innings and blew two saves.
Boone acknowledged the struggles, saying, “He was really good in the middle of the season but has been having some difficulties lately. We hope he can turn things around.” He also noted that command issues and walks have hurt Williams.
Tuesday’s loss reflected more than just Williams’ performance; the Yankees’ offense managed only two hits against the Rangers, extending their losing streak to five games. The Rangers, by winning two games in New York, tightened the wild-card race. After Wednesday’s loss and a Mariners’ win, the Yankees dropped to third place, just half a game behind the Rangers for the final wild-card spot.
If the Yankees lose again to the Rangers on Wednesday, they could be eliminated from playoff contention. When asked about the team’s status, Boone candidly said, “Not good. We have to respond. If we play like this and can’t win, that’s not acceptable.”
Fan Take: This situation is crucial for baseball fans because it highlights how even strong teams like the Yankees can struggle with inconsistency in key moments, impacting playoff races drastically. It serves as a reminder that baseball’s unpredictability keeps the sport thrilling—and that late-season performances from players like Williams could shape the postseason landscape dramatically.
