Yankees' Devin Williams: Coughs up four runs to take loss
Rotowire
Williams (3-6) took the loss against Houston on Wednesday, allowing four runs on one hit and three walks while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning.
The game was tied 4-4 when Williams took the mound in the eighth inning. He immediately found himself in trouble, giving up a double and a walk to the first two batters he faced. Williams fanned two of the next three hitters to nearly wiggle out of the mess, but he then walked in a run before giving way to Camilo Doval, who allowed all three of his inherited runners to score. Williams has been prone to blowups this season -- he's given up multiple runs in 10 outings, and in half of those instances he's surrendered at least three runs. Despite an impressive 78:23 K:BB over 53 frames, his ERA sits at an ugly 5.60 on the season.
Yankees' Devin Williams: Nabs extra-inning save Wednesday
Rotowire
Williams recorded his 18th save of the season in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Rays, giving up an unearned run on two hits in the 10th inning. He struck out three.
David Bednar blew the save in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras, and after the Yankees slugged two more homers in the top of the 10th to reclaim the lead, Williams found himself in another save situation. He allowed back-to-back hits to lead off the frame, bringing home the phantom runner and making things very dicey, but the Airbender proceeded to strike out the side and escape the jam. Bednar is still likely the top choice for closing duties, but Williams has gone five straight appearances without giving up an earned run while delivering an 11:1 K:BB over 4.1 innings, and he could be working his way back into the mix.
Yankees' Devin Williams: Deployed in sixth inning Sunday
Rotowire
Williams struck out the side in a perfect sixth inning against Houston on Sunday.
Williams had been struggling entering Sunday, taking two blown saves and two losses with a 15.43 ERA over his previous five appearances. While he was dominant in fanning all three batters he faced on a combined 11 pitches Sunday, it's perhaps even more notable that he came into the contest in the sixth frame with New York down 4-0. Of note as well is that his entrance was initiated by fill-in manager Brad Ausmus after manager Aaron Boone was ejected in the third inning. It's a complex situation, but Williams' usage Sunday could be an indication that the Yankees want to give him lower-leverage work at least temporarily in order to help him right the ship, as they did earlier in the campaign after the veteran reliever struggled out of the gate. If that is indeed the plan, a move out of the ninth-inning role not be temporary this time given that New York acquired an experienced closer at the trade deadline in David Bednar, who has gone 1-for-3 in save chances since joining the Yankees but has posted a strong 10:3 K:BB with a 3.00 ERA over six innings.
Williams (3-5) took the loss against the Astros on Friday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and no walks with one strikeout in the 10th inning.
Williams was called upon in the extra frame and immediately allowed the runner on second to score before surrendering a two-run homer. He's struggled mightily over his past four outings, giving up seven earned runs with two blown saves and two losses as the Yankees fight for a playoff spot. Although the 30-year-old is 17-for-20 in save chances this season, he carries a miserable 5.73 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB across 44 innings. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, manager Aaron Boone is trying to find softer landing spots for Williams, indicating he's likely lost his grip on the closer role for the time being.
Yankees' Devin Williams: Serves up homer in blown save
Rotowire
Williams was charged with a blown save in Monday's 8-5 extra-inning loss to the Rangers, allowing one run on one hit and no walks in one inning. He struck out one.
Williams was summoned to protect a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning, but he was taken deep by Joc Pederson for a solo shot that knotted the game up at five runs apiece. The right-hander is beginning to show glimpses of his early-season woes, which unseated him from the closer's role at one point, as he has a 6.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB over his last 12 frames since the start of July. Additionally, Williams now has plenty of competition for save chances in the form of Luke Weaver, David Bednar and Camilo Doval.
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