David Bednar picked up his fourth save of the season on Saturday night in the New York Yankees‘ 9-7 win over the Miami Marlins, but not without some drama.
Bednar allowed a run on three hits while also walking a batter before finally getting out of a jam in the ninth inning, marking the second straight game he has encountered such an issue.
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In the Yankees’ rubber match against the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, Bednar experienced similar problems, surrendering a run on three hits before finally closing the door.
On the campaign as a whole, Bednar owns a 4.15 ERA and an alarming 2.31 WHIP. Yes, it’s an incredibly small sample size, but Bednar has allowed a baserunner in each of his four appearances thus far.
Remember: Bednar has never pitched a full season in New York. He came over in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates last summer, and while he was certainly solid for the Yankees overall, he certainly had some hiccups along the way.
Bednar was an elite reliever in Pittsburgh. He made back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2022 and 2023, leading the National League with 39 saves in the latter campaign. He also owns a lifetime 3.16 ERA.
New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar. Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.
But can he sustain his success over a full 162-game marathon in the Bronx?
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It remains to be seen.
We do have to understand that Mariano Rivera was one of a kind, so we have to be careful not be too spoiled by his greatness. But the Yankees have had some terrific closers since then. We don’t yet know if Bednar is one of them.
What we do know is that Bednar has walked a tight rope so far this season, and it’s something he needs to get cleaned up quickly.
Heck, Camilo Doval has gotten shelled in two straight outings, as well, so perhaps the back end of New York’s bullpen is not as dominant as many felt it would be heading into 2026.
The Yankees’ pen was a problem area throughout much of 2025, before and after the trade deadline. The hope is that the offseason would allow New York’s relievers to settle down, but apparently, it didn’t do the trick. At least so far.
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This could all be much ado about nothing, but the Yanks should absolutely be keeping a watchful eye on Bednar as the season progresses.
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