If not for Romano, whom the Yankees should send a fruit basket to after his performances in the Bronx, New York could be staring at a nine-game losing streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know we\u2019ll hit our stride,\u201d Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after splitting the four-game series with the Angels. \u201cI feel good about where we\u2019re going to go, and we\u2019re doing some of the right things, but we\u2019ve got to put it together now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways after Thursday\u2019s 11-4 loss to Los Angeles:<\/p>\n
What to make of the bullpen?<\/p>\n
Before the season began, pitching coach Matt Blake had his own questions about how effective the Yankees\u2019 bullpen could be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it has the attributes to be a good bullpen,\u201d Blake said during spring training. \u201cThere\u2019s some unproven commodities out there that have to step up but have the ability to do it. I think it\u2019s on us to put them in position to succeed early so they can gain confidence and then grow into the roles as they go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bullpen has been a mixed bag through the first 19 games.<\/p>\n
David Bednar has a 4.70 ERA but five saves. His fastball velocity has been down nearly 2 mph from last season, and it\u2019s clearly a reason he\u2019s not registering the same swing-and-miss numbers as last season. Camilo Doval has a 7.36 ERA and has been hit hard. The good news for Doval is that he has limited walks. Brent Headrick and Tim Hill have been effective. Fernando Cruz has been his usual high-wire act, where he could be brilliant or have no command.<\/p>\n
One of the relievers the Yankees expected more from is Jake Bird, but he was optioned to the minor leagues earlier this week, and his spot has turned into a revolving door with Yerry De los Santos and Angel Chivilli getting called up.<\/p>\n
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\n Brent Headrick has a 1.74 ERA in 12 games, the most appearances in the majors. (Thearon W. Henderson \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A key issue has emerged with the bullpen: There\u2019s a significant drop-off after its top five of Bednar, Doval, Cruz, Hill and Headrick.<\/p>\n
Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough can\u2019t be trusted in high-leverage spots, and the Bird\/De los Santos\/Chivilli spot is more of a mop-up role for the time being. The lack of trust is forcing Boone to turn to those top-five options a lot. Headrick has appeared in the most games among MLB relievers, and Cruz and Hill are inside the top 25 in appearances.<\/p>\n
The Yankees need someone outside that circle of trust to emerge. Otherwise, this group could be in trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s opportunity for these guys to continue to grab roles,\u201d Boone said after his bullpen allowed 14 runs in the Angels series. \u201cHopefully, some real key people emerge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coming into the season, the bullpen was oddly constructed, with two long men in Blackburn and Yarbrough. The Blackburn spot, in particular, could have (and likely should have) gone to a higher-leverage reliever. Yarbrough was seen as possible starting pitching depth when he re-signed; Blackburn would have been an emergency starter option.<\/p>\n
But the Yankees chose not to sign a key reliever in free agency, even after losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the New York Mets. Although both had their warts, they were two of the club\u2019s highest-leverage relievers in 2025. Losing them meant more impactful roles for the returning relievers.<\/p>\n
The lack of spending on a reliever will be a talking point throughout the season if the bullpen cannot stabilize.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a volatile market in general,\u201d Blake said in spring training. \u201cYou see a lot of (teams) that spend high dollars on relievers, and it doesn\u2019t always pan out. You can find some under-the-radar guys with good stuff that haven\u2019t gotten opportunities, or maybe you change something about the way they\u2019ve been operating, and you catch lightning in a bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n
The biggest question about the Yankees coming into the season remains after 19 games.<\/p>\n
What can be done?<\/p>\n
In the meantime, not much, other than hoping they get better performances out of their current group.<\/p>\n
If everyone remains healthy when Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rod\u00f3n are ready to return, the Yankees could move two of their current starters to the bullpen. It\u2019s not a given that will help, but Ryan Weathers and Will Warren have the ability to become good relievers. Luis Gil should be sent to the minors if the club needs to make space on the 26-man roster. He doesn\u2019t possess the command or stuff to be effective out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n
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