Everybody knows that, for a few years now, the New York Yankees have prioritized a super-bullpen, one that is clearly above the rest. They like to shorten games for opposing teams, sending one strong reliever after another in order to shut them down. Quite frankly, that hasn’t been the case this shortened season.
According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the New York Yankees’ bullpen has been quite mediocre this season, with a 4.54 ERA. That number is just enough to rank the club in the ninth spot out of 15 American League teams, far from the super units the Bombers had in 2018 and 2019.
We know that Aroldis Chapman is an elite reliever and, save from a few hiccups when he was thrown into the fire after recovering from a positive COVID-19 test, has pitched as such. He has a 3.09 ERA and a 2.93 FIP in 11.2 innings, with a 48.9 K% and an 8.9 BB%.
Zack Britton is the other surefire candidate to keep opposing batters at bay in the late innings. The lefty groundball specialist had a 1.89 ERA and a 2.61 FIP in 19.0 regular season frames. He filled in admirably for Chapman as the closer in the early going.
The Yankees need Ottavino and Green to bring their A-game
However, if the Yankees want to shorten games for their rivals, they need Adam Ottavino and Chad Green to perform to the top of their respective abilities.
Green finished with a good 3.51 ERA in 25.1 innings. He was his usual dominant self, with a 32.0 K%. However, the fact that he allowed four homers in a span of two outings and two frames reminded us that he can be very prone to the long ball. He made adjustments and pitched well down the stretch, and for the Yankees to get past the Indians, they will need Green at his best.
The same goes to Adam Ottavino. The righty of the $9 million-per-year contract had a 5.89 ERA in the regular season. That is not going to cut it, but he is a very talented hurler capable of much more. His 3.52 FIP also tells us another story.
The Yankees have other useful arms in Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa, Jonathan Holder, and more. But the X-factors in the bullpen will be Ottavino and Green.