The Yankees Should Stick With Luke Weaver As Their Closer

After blowing his league-leading 11^th save, the New York Yankees essentially removed Clay Holmes as closer. It seemed as though GM Brian Cashman made a poor decision to not acquire a closer at the trade deadline. The team then said it would mix and match different relievers to close out games. While the team wasn’t going away from Holmes completely, others Luke Weaver, Tommy Kahnle, Jake Cousins, and Tim Hill would also get opportunities. However, New York has been going to Weaver in save situations lately and he’s essentially become the unofficial closer. The Yankees should make Luke Weaver the full-time closer going into the postseason.

Clay Holmes Struggles

After a hot start to the season, Clay Holmes struggled badly in July. Despite being selected to his second career all-star game, the 31-year-old blew four saves that month. Despite his shakiness, the Yankees gave him a vote of confidence by not trading for a closer at the trade deadline. However, after a solid August, Holmes’s struggles returned in September. After blowing another save, in which he surrendered a game-winning grand slam, the Yankees decided to make a late-season change to the closer role. While the team wasn’t going to go away from Holmes closing completely, they did hint that he wouldn’t be the primary closer anymore. The Yankees would instead use a “closer by committee.” This meant that other relievers like Luke Weaver, Tommy Kahnle, Jake Cousins, and Tim Hill would also get opportunities to close.

Luke Weaver Has Become The De Facto Closer

However, despite the change in strategy, New York has relied on Luke Weaver for the last three games to close. Despite closing for the first time in his career, the 30-year-old reliever hasn’t disappointed. In those three games, Weaver hasn’t surrendered a run, converted two saves, and got the final three outs in an extra-inning win. One of those saves was earned by Weaver going two innings. He also hasn’t given up a run since September 2^nd. It’s safe to say that Weaver has become the Yankees de facto closer.

He Has Been The Yankees Most Reliable High Leverage Reliever

Before becoming the de facto closer, Luke Weaver had been New York’s most reliable reliever. This season, Weaver has a record of 5-3 with an ERA of 3.09, 91 strikeouts, a 0.959 WHIP, and his 22 holds lead the team. Unlike most Yankee relievers this season, Weaver is a high-strikeout pitcher. This season, he’s put up a strikeout rate of 28.2%. At one point in the season, the 30-year-old reliever went eight appearances in a row without giving up a run. Opposing hitters are only hitting .161 against him with an OPS of just .599. Out of the 20 runners Weaver has inherited in 58 games pitched, only six have scored.

There Is No Reason Why Luke Weaver Shouldn’t Be Closing

Luke Weaver has been the Yankees’ most reliable reliever in high-leverage situations. If the Yankees make Luke Weaver the official closer, Brian Cashman might have an opportunity to be vindicated. The 30-year-old has proven he can get the final three outs, there is no need to try to have anyone else do the job. Given how successful Weaver has been over the past three games, the Yankees shouldn’t deviate from what’s working this late in the season.

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