In a game that ended without any runs, Aaron Boone faced a tough situation with Devin Williams on Tuesday night.
The day after a particularly tough game where Williams blew a save, Boone found himself needing to rely on him during an eight-inning scoreless matchup against the Rangers.
Some managers might have sidestepped putting a struggling pitcher on the mound, especially someone who has seemingly lost their closing role, but Boone offered Williams a chance to redeem himself, a decision that many are questioning.
“We’ve started to piece things together,” Boone shared. “When Will (Warren) got through five, we felt good. I liked him facing those right-handed hitters, but it just didn’t pan out.”
This time, Boone’s choice didn’t work out for Williams, who again faltered, leading the Yankees to suffer their fifth consecutive loss, ending the game 2-0.
Currently, Williams holds a record of 3-4 with a concerning ERA of 5.44, which has skyrocketed to a staggering 9.39 over the last eight games, marking four losses in a row.
“Honestly, I’m at a loss for words,” Williams admitted. “I just need to keep pushing and find ways to help my team.”
One of the appealing aspects of baseball is that a pitcher always gets a chance to bounce back right after a rough outing, as evidenced when Jock Pederson homered following such a performance. However, managers often try to avoid using pitchers who are struggling if they can help it.
During Tuesday’s game, Warren grappled through five innings before Boone had to make a tough call, bringing in Kamilo Doval and Luke Weaver for the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
The Rangers started strong, managing to get their first four batters on base.
Boone seemed to want to make room for Mark Writer Jr. to return following an injury, but David Bednar appeared to be the preferred choice for a potential save situation.
After getting Marcus Semien out, Williams then allowed a double to Adris Garcia, while Jackson Dominguez was ready but couldn’t make the play.
The situation worsened when Williams struggled with his control, allowing Pederson to reach base, followed by Wyatt Langford, which loaded the bases.
At that critical moment, Boone had the chance to substitute Williams, with Bednar and Lighter warming up, yet he decided to stick with his struggling reliever.
Boone mentioned he didn’t consider pulling Williams because he was concerned about the Rangers being able to counter with a pinch hitter.
“I was planning to go with Bednar in a high-pressure situation, but you know, I might have to shorten the game,” Boone noted. “We don’t have a lot left, and the writer hasn’t pitched in a while, so if I could stretch it to four scenarios, that was the goal.”
Boone’s decision turned out poorly, with the Low Ditels scoring on a soft single that notched two runs.
Williams acknowledged the moment the ball was hit, “He did really well. He fought me and hit everything,” he reflected. “He got the better of me today, but I’ll be ready next time.”
Chances are slim that Williams will take the mound again on Wednesday for the series finale following this stretch of poor performance.
Bednar, Doval, and Weaver are all available, and Boone may consider using Williams in lower-leverage situations if needed to help manage the left-handed hitters.
What complicates matters is Boone’s uncertainty regarding why Williams is experiencing such a difficult season.
“He was performing well, and now he seems to be struggling,” Boone observed. “We’re hoping he can turn it around and help us stay competitive.”
