No one in baseball has played as close a game as the Yankees, but things have been going very well for them.
Out of 36 contests, 27 have been decided by three points or less, the most in baseball. And in those games, they have 16 wins and 11 losses.
Each game in the Tigers’ sweep over the weekend was a very close one, keyed by a strong performance from the starters and a bullpen that pitched well after attacking in the clutch.
“I think it’s really important to get through those games. Once the season is over, those games are going to be the games that lead to the playoffs,” Juan Soto said. “Winning close games and tough games means a lot to us towards the end of the season. A lot of people won’t see it right now, but you’ll see the payoff once the season is over.”
The main reason is the excellent work of the bullpen, led by lights-out closer Clay Holmes.
The right-handed pitcher has pitched 16 1/3 innings without allowing a run, with 18 strikeouts and 11 saves.
But he’s not the only one behind the new-look pen.
The Yankees lost a number of key players in the offseason, most notably Michael King (trade) and Wandy Peralta (free agency). Jonathan Loaisiga is out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery.
Their replacements have been great, from Ian Hamilton and Luke Weaver to Victor Gonzalez and Dennis Santana.
Santana has the lowest ERA of the four at 3.45, and the former Mets right-hander has not scored in his last six games.
This group boasts an MLB-best ERA of 2.27, allowing just three earned runs in 43 innings since April 23.
The bullpen did not allow an earned run in 23¹/₃ innings, and the Yankees (23-13) overall had a team ERA of 2.99, the third-lowest in the game.
“To win a lot of close games, it takes the contribution of the entire bullpen,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Maybe he’ll hang around even in games he’s losing.” [and rally for a win], but it’s also a credit to that pen in that it was able to close out some games. ”
The starting pitcher cannot be overlooked either.
His career ERA is 3.46, and he has started 29 games with three earned runs or less.
The Yankees are also one of three teams, along with the Orioles and Nationals, to require starting pitchers to pitch at least four innings in every game.
It all contributed to a strong start in a close game.
