Clay

Holmes

Holmes lost his closing gig when he gave up four runs in a blown save on Sept. 3, but he’s since allowed two runs in eight innings. He ends the year with a 3.14 ERA, 68 strikeouts and four homers allowed in 63 innings. We’d expect Luke Weaver, who got the win today, to remain the favorite for saves in the Yankees pen during the postseason, but Holmes remains a viable option in the ninth.

The Yankees showed little faith in Holmes in the eighth today, pulling him after a single, a walk and a strikeout. Weaver came in and struck out Seth Brown and Kyle McCann to end the threat. He then pitched a perfect ninth. The Yankees are asking a lot from Weaver, who has now totaled 83 innings in relief this season. He’s up to 101 strikeouts after getting three today.

Clay Holmes got two outs in the eighth today for his first hold. The Yankees could have stuck with him, but they opted to go to Jake Cousins for the save chance in a 4-1 game in the ninth. Plans changed after Cousins hit a batter and walked another, recording one out in between. Kahnle then came in to face Jarren Duran and got the game-ending grounder. It was his eighth career save in 10 big-league seasons. The Yankees will likely keep mixing and matching at the end of games for now.

A three-run lead would have made this an easy day for Aaron Boone to send Clay Holmes out to regain some confidence. Instead, Holmes remained in the pen, and Weaver finished things off after Jake Cousins and Tommy Kahnle set him up with scoreless innings. Weaver had some help from umpire Jordan Baker, who apparently wanted this one over with and gave him four free strikes to the three batters he retired. Weaver appears to be worth grabbing if you’re chasing saves.

A night to think about it didn’t give Boone much clarity here, or at least if it did, he wasn’t very interested in sharing with the room. He said Clay Holmes is still part of the closing mix. It’s clear the Yankees don’t have anyone they really trust to replace him. 11 blown saves or no, he’s still their best reliever. No other specifics were mentioned pregame, but we imagine Jake Cousins will be in mix for saves for now.

Holmes gave up a walk-off grand slam to Wyatt Langford to take the loss and blow his 11th save of the season. That’s not a typo. The 31-year-old started the season as dominant as any reliever in baseball, but there’s been quite a few missteps since that hot outing. The Yankees are going to give the right-hander plenty of leads, but there’s a little more risk in his profile than you’d like. You all know this, of course. You’ve been dealing with it for 130-plus games.

All of Holmes’s missteps seem to result in blown saves, but he’s been effective in allowing three runs — two earned — and amassing a 15/4 K/BB in 9 1/3 innings this month.

Holmes got the call to protect a three-run lead in the final frame during Monday’s series opener in the nation’s capital and needed just - pitches to slam the door. He got Keibert Ruiz to line out to center field before coaxing grounders from Luis García Jr. and José Tena to end the contest. The 31-year-old righty has endured some struggles recently, but hasn’t relinquished his grip on New York’s closer role.

There was a collective gasp when Holmes walked the lead-off hitter in the ninth inning, but it proved to be moot. He needed a painless outing and this was as close to one as he’s had lately. He’s a far better pitcher than his bevy of blown saves lately would indicate.

There aren’t a ton of alternatives for the Yankees at this late juncture of the season, but Holmes appears to still have a grip on the closing role after suffering his 10th blown save of the year on Sunday night against the Tigers. It’s possible they’ll turn to Tommy Kahnle or Luke Weaver, but Holmes still appears to be in the mix for saves.