Entering the playoffs, the Yankees’ bullpen consists of three reliable pitchers along with quite a few uncertainties. Will Warren is hoping to become one of the solutions they need.
In his last regular-season outing on Friday, Warren, who is a right-handed starter, came out of the bullpen and threw 3 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Orioles, which allowed them to split the doubleheader. This performance is positioning him for a relief role in the upcoming AL Wild Card Series.
Warren struck out seven of 11 batters faced, accumulating 13 swings and misses on 28 pitches, showcasing a swing-and-miss style that could help fortify the Yankees’ bullpen.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about Warren’s potential contribution in the postseason, noting, “He can be big for us moving forward in the postseason, and in different roles.”
While the Yankees rely on Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn to help transition to closer David Bednar in the ninth, they could really benefit from additional support. Warren has been improving lately, particularly with his velocity and overall performance over the past month.
“I feel like as a starter, you’re supposed to get both sides of the plate out, so I think that would be pretty big for us,” Warren shared, finishing the season with a 3.92 ERA. He added, “You see Blackburn do it, you see Headrick do it, so whenever my name’s called, I’ll be ready to go.”
The team limited Warren to 54 pitches in this relief appearance, which was his third of the season—allowing him to be available for Game 1 against the Red Sox on Tuesday while keeping him fresh for longer outings if needed.
Warren humorously noted, “I felt good — a little less blackout this time,” referring to his previous bullpen appearance that didn’t go as smoothly against the Padres earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the Yankees (93-68) faced challenges on a windy day marked by an impending nor’easter. They lost the first game of the doubleheader 10-2 but bounced back in the second game, showing more offensive sparks with notable contributions such as a two-run double from Anthony Volpe and multiple hits from Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon.
In the first game, former Met Pete Alonso hit two home runs for the Orioles (79-82), including a remarkable 471-foot shot that thrived despite the strong wind, making him the solo leader in the American League with 43 home runs this season.
However, the Yankees’ outfield defense raised some eyebrows during both games. In Game 1, Spencer Jones misplayed a fly ball leading to an inside-the-park home run for Jeremiah Jackson. In Game 2, Heliot Ramos let a fly ball slip through his hands in right field.
