When the New York Yankees decided to “get creative” with the closer role after Clay Holmes had blown another save, fans were worried about what was to come. The Yankees worked around their bullpen and rotated some guys around, and the creativity may have worked quicker than expected. The Yankees might have found their new closer for the postseason in Luke Weaver.
Luke Weaver Is A Hidden Gem
Not much thought was put into Luke Weaver as an option for the closer position, as all the pressure was on Clay Holmes. Holmes had an outstanding stat line at the beginning of the 2024 season until summer rolled around. Holmes blew save after save throughout this season and now has 12 blown saves, with Jalen Beeks behind him with nine blown saves. The Yankees decided to put Clay Holmes out of the closer role and worked with what they had in the bullpen.
Luke Weaver emerged as the first pitcher in line for the New York Yankees as they looked to get creative in finding their closer. With the season nearing its end and limited time until the postseason, the Yankees faced mounting pressure.
Luke Weaver was first in line when the Yankees got creative in figuring out who would close out games. With the season quickly approaching and limited time to get creative, time was against New York.
Fortunately for New York, Weaver quickly established himself as worthy of the closer role, securing a save against the Chicago Cubs. His performance included two strikeouts, earning him favor among fans increasingly viewing him as a candidate for being the Yankees’ closer in the postseason. Weaver's pitching performances helped secure a victory against the Kansas City Royals and recorded an additional save against the Boston Red Sox.
Weaver's skills were further showcased during an extra-innings matchup against the Royals , where he threw 25 pitches over 1.2 innings to maintain a 3-3 tie, ultimately contributing to a Yankees victory in the bottom of the 11th inning. He also scored another save in a close game against the Boston Red Sox , pitching two innings and striking out five batters on 35 pitches. With these standout performances as the postseason approaches, the Yankees appear to have secured their closer at the right time.
Weaver’s Recent Stats Make Him Worthy
According to Empire Sports Media , Weaver has a 28.6% whiff rate for his four-seam fastball, which is excellent for a fastball. Weaver also has a powerful pitching weapon in his arsenal in his changeup. Weaver’s changeup has a “-3° launch angle with an incredibly high Whiff Rate, allowing Weaver to attack batters with it in two-strike situations and get outs…There’s a 13.8-inch difference in vertical movement between his fastball and changeup, causing both left-handed and right-handed batters to swing over it often,”
To put it simply, Luke Weaver's diverse pitching arsenal puts him up for the role of Yankees’ closer. Although he has yet to experience postseason baseball, he appears well-prepared for the high-stakes environment. A confident closing pitcher capable of striking out batters in critical situations alleviates fan anxiety during tense moments, instilling trust in Weaver's ability to secure postseason victories during close games.
Luke Weaver may prove to be an unexpected asset for the Yankees. While Clay Holmes may still be utilized in closing scenarios during the season's final games, it seems increasingly likely that Weaver will be New York’s primary choice at closer. If he can navigate the pressures of the postseason and maintain his current momentum into October, the Yankees may finally have a legitimate shot at the World Series title this season.
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