The American League East Champions have punched their ticket to the League Championship Series. Aaron Boone and his team entered this postseason run with a select amount of pitching, leaving some pieces off the roster. Their closer was unknown.
Boone mentioned late September that the closer role would be reviewed and possibly filled on a day to day basis.
Yankees recent closer Clay Holmes was showing promising ques. The 2024 season carried on; the later the season went, the more Holmes struggled in his role. The Yankees manager strung together a plan daily based on numbers, matchups, and availability.
We heard names like Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman to get late inning roles; Tim Hill was also in the conversation. So far, it seems like right-hander Luke Weaver is their guy.
Luke Weaver is the man in the Ninth Inning
The right-hander, Luke Weaver, has been highly trusted this postseason and it has worked out well so far. He’s gotten four appearances in the American League Division Series. In four appearances he’s thrown 4 and 1 / 3 innings.
He’s allowed only two hits, no runs, and five strikeouts. In three save opportunities, Weaver is 100% successful with three saves,
On the year, he owns a 7-3 record in 62 games pitched, with 84 innings. He’s recorded 103 strikeouts with four saves, and a .289 ERA.
What does Weaver offer on the mound?
Weaver offers a four-pitch mix, leading with a four seam fastball, along with a changeup, cutter, and knuckle curve. The heater, changeup, and cutter hold the higher put-away percentages of the four options.
His fastball is between 95-97 mph. There’s about a six to seven mph separation between the fastball and changeup, which sits around 87-88 mph. The cutter is up to 92 mph.
The right-hander is calm, cool, and collected with his delivery. He’s repetitive in his arm action, and release point, allowing for consistent command and location. Weaver pounds the zone and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters.
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