Yankees’ bullpen has been a driving force behind the recent hot streak

New York Yankees, Jonathan Loaisiga
Sep 30, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga (38) walks off of the field after the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Everybody knows that the New York Yankees’ offense has come alive during their 10-game winning streak. In eight of those 10 games, the team has scored at least five runs. However, one department in which the Bombers have been dominant for a while is the bullpen.

Quietly, but surely, the Yankees’ bullpen has gotten the job done in the month of August, and the unit’s success has allowed the team to hold to the leads generated by the offense and protected early by the starters.

The Yankees’ relievers are leading the league in Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, in the month of August with 1.9. They have a 0.3 advantage over the second-placed San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, both with 1.6.

Over that timeframe, the Yanks’ relievers also have the best ERA in MLB with 2.16, and are getting both grounders (52.7 percent groundball rate) and strikeouts (9.07 K%), both easy avenues to outs.

The Yankees relievers always deliver

Last night, Yankees’ starter Jordan Montgomery didn’t quite have his best stuff, but was able to complete five innings while only conceding a single earned run. Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta, and Aroldis Chapman combined to throw four scoreless innings.

Ever since July 5, when the Yankees’ hot streak really started, their relievers have been there to bail the starters when they can’t go long in an outing, and even in bullpen days, they have delivered.

“What’s been nice about it is, it’s been the entire roster,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told MLB.com after winning against the Atlanta Braves on Monday. “All 26 guys in there are playing important roles in this and having big hands in us winning ballgames. And that’s a fun thing to be a part of.

“Knowing that guy 1 through 26 is going to be counted on, and chances are maybe in a big spot … I feel like guys are locked in with that mindset of, ‘What can I do to help us win a ballgame today?’”

 

The bullpen has certainly become a strength again.