Guardians inching closer towards Yankees in the standings, according to Jon Heyman's revelations about the tough competition ahead
In the heart of the 2025 Major League Baseball season, the New York Yankees find themselves grappling with a challenging situation, with their relievers, including Devin Williams, struggling to hold leads recently. This struggle has been evident in Williams' performance, as he has a 5.10 ERA across 46 appearances, with 17 walks and 4 home runs surrendered.
Williams' performance has been a far cry from his previous success in Milwaukee, where he was an elite reliever. His difficulties have directly contributed to late-game losses, such as the 5-3 extra-innings defeat to the Houston Astros, where a wild pitch and multiple home runs off Williams were key factors.
The Yankees have had a disappointing stretch, going 19-30 since mid-June, partly due to bullpen instability including Williams' underperformance. However, there have been flashes of effectiveness, such as striking out the side in an appearance against the Astros on August 10, 2025, showing he can still be dominant on occasion.
In response to these struggles, the Yankees bolstered their bullpen at the trade deadline with additions like Camilo Doval and David Bednar, previously the closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This depth might help mitigate the impact of Williams' struggles on the team's success moving forward.
As of Saturday, the Yankees have a record of 61-55, fighting to make the MLB playoffs. They are currently 1/2 game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians, who have a smaller payroll but have sold players at the deadline and have a gambling investigation hanging over two of their pitchers, including their star closer. The Guardians are 1/2 game behind the Yankees in the American League East standings, with the Yankees hosting the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon.
The Yankees' current situation has been painted as tough by New York Post reporter Jon Heyman, with the team not in first place in the American League East and Gerrit Cole, a Yankees starter, not pitching all season. Clarke Schmidt, another Yankees starter, is out for the year due to injury. Despite these challenges, the Yankees remain hopeful and continue their pursuit of a playoff spot.
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Devin Williams' struggles, as evident in his 5.10 ERA and surrendered home runs, have been detrimental to the New York Yankees' quest for playoffs success in the 2025 Major League Baseball season. The Yankees' decision to reinforce their bullpen at the trade deadline with additions like Camilo Doval and David Bednar might help offset Williams' underperformance, ensuring their playoff aspirations remain alive.
