Yankees’ Bullpen Struggles and Highlights in Game Against Orioles
On Friday night, with Fernando Cruz already pitching three out of four days, Jake Byrd got the call-up for Saturday’s game. It was an interesting series of relief appearances from the Yankees’ bullpen, where roles seem to be up for grabs.
Byrd showed some promise and a bit of a challenge before Camilo Doval followed suit in the Yankees’ 9-4 victory against the Orioles in the Bronx.
Things got tense in the sixth inning. Ryan Weathers loaded the bases with no outs—thanks, in part, to a misplay by Ben Rice—while the Yankees held a five-run lead. Manager Aaron Boone made a decision to substitute right-hander Pete Alonso with Byrd.
Initially, this move might’ve seemed questionable, but it turned out to be beneficial. Alonso managed to ground out into a double play but still scored a run.
Just as Byrd appeared to escape the jam, he unwittingly walked Tyler O’Neal and allowed a double to Samuel Vassallo, tightening the score to 6-3 by the end of the inning.
“Jake Byrd had a really good moment today,” Boone said, adding that Byrd held it together during the critical moments of the game.
Byrd then passed the baton to Doval, who, despite being one of the more pivotal players in the Yankees’ lineup, struggled with consistency, especially as the team seeks a reliable setup man before David Bednar.
Doval, pitching for the second consecutive day, faced some hiccups, allowing a walk to Dylan Beavers and having trouble managing runners on base. Beavers stole both second and third before scoring on a ground out.
“I thought he threw the ball well, but he was a little slow in the running game,” Boone commented about Doval’s performance. Doval had an excellent outing the day before but recorded just two outs before giving the ball to Tim Hill, who managed to get a quick ground out from Gunnar Henderson with only one pitch.
Paul Blackburn took care of the final two scoreless innings, easing the strain on an unconventional bullpen as the Yankees pulled ahead of Baltimore.
Currently, the Yankees have Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough as two starters, while they’re searching for a steady bridge to Bednar.
The bullpen began strong but faced some bumps recently; however, they’ve been improving with a 2.79 ERA over the last 14 games. “I think our pens did a really great job,” Boone said. “Coming out of spring training, there were some question marks, and it’s still evolving, but overall, they did well.”
Meanwhile, Jason Dominguez returned to action as the designated hitter after leaving Wednesday’s game due to an elbow issue. He went 1-for-4 during the game.
Giancarlo Stanton, having recently returned from a calf injury, was given a day off for rest. His timeline for a full-speed return remains unclear.
Elmer Rodriguez is expected to pitch at least one more game, scheduled for Tuesday’s series opener against the Rangers.
Another player on the Yankees’ radar is Carlos LaGrange, who was impressive in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, boasting a 3.75 ERA in six starts. The right-hander’s role in the upcoming season is still undecided.
“He continues to give us reasons to be very excited about him,” Boone mentioned regarding LaGrange, acknowledging the promising potential of the 22-year-old.
Lastly, Anthony Volpe is still at Double-A Somerset but is expected to play again on Sunday before his rehab assignment concludes. The Yankees will soon need to decide whether to reinstate him, play him as the starting shortstop over Jose Caballero, or send him back to the minors.
Prior to the game, Boone and Gerrit Cole greeted Sara Langs, an MLB researcher battling ALS, and presented her with an autographed bat for her birthday.
