Yankees' Devin Williams: Nabs extra-inning save Wednesday
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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.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Deployed in sixth inning Sunday
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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.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Serves up homer in blown save
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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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Yankees' Devin Williams: Saddled with second blown save
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Williams was charged with a blown save in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rays, giving up two runs on one hit and one walk with no strikeouts in one inning.
It was only the second blown save of the season by Williams, but it's certainly been a shaky month of July for him. Over his last 11 innings, the star right-hander has a 5.73 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB. Williams does have a strong 3.48 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 28:5 K:BB across 20.2 innings since the start of June, so he's likely to remain New York's top option at closer going forward.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Up to 16 saves
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Williams earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Phillies, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Williams turned in another clean inning Sunday, converting his 11th straight save chance and 16th overall this season. The right-hander has lowered his ERA to 4.58 with a 1.09 WHIP and 53:15 K:BB across 39.1 innings this year.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Nabs save No. 15
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Williams picked up the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one hit and no walks in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out two.
While Williams did allow the potential tying run to get aboard, he poured in 15 of his 19 pitches for strikes en route to nabbing his 15th save of the season. The 30-year-old right-hander has remained New York's top option for ninth-inning work even with Luke Weaver back in the mix. Over his last 26.2 innings, Williams has recorded a stellar 2.36 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 38:5 K:BB while converting each of his 11 save chances.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Picks up 14th save
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Williams earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over Atlanta, allowing a run on one hit while striking out one in the ninth inning.
Williams would give up a 456-foot blast to Ronald Acuna to lead off the ninth before settling in and retiring the next three batters in order. While Williams has given up a run in back-to-back outings, he's converted 10 straight save chances since reclaiming the ninth-inning job in the Bronx. Overall, Williams is up to 14 saves while posting a 4.82 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and 49:15 K:BB across 37.1 innings this season.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Notches 13th save
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Williams struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 9-6 win over the Mariners.
The Airbender has put a shaky start to his tenure in the Bronx firmly behind him. Williams has converted nine straight save chances since moving back into the closer picture in late May, posting a 3.14 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB over his 14.1 innings, and he's been charged with runs in only one of his last 11 appearances. Given Luke Weaver's current struggles, Williams would seem to have a firm grip on the ninth-inning role for the Yankees.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: To split save chances
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Aaron Boone said Friday that Williams and Luke Weaver will both receive save opportunities, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Williams has turned things around after allowing 12 runs in his first 10 appearances this season, notching a 2.79 ERA in 19.1 innings since. He saw extended action at closer recently while Weaver was on the shelf and impressed enough to earn a share of the save chances even though Weaver is healthy. It's not clear exactly how ninth-inning duties will be divvied up, so fantasy managers should keep a keen eye on both Williams and Weaver moving forward.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Finishes staff shutout
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Williams picked up the save after working a clean ninth inning, striking out one, during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Royals.
It's been a roller-coaster season for Williams working through a bad start and a fluctuating role. The injury to Luke Weaver (hamstring) has allowed the 30-year-old to return the closer role where he's most comfortable, and he's done a good job since, closing out all three games he's been asked to. He's now up to nine saves on the year along with 32 strikeouts, a 1.30 WHIP and a 5.68 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Puts out fire for eighth save
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Williams notched the save in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the Royals, recording the final two outs while fanning one.
The Royals made things interesting by scoring three runs in the ninth inning, which prompted manager Aaron Boone to summon Williams to put out the fire and earn his eighth save of the year. The 30-year-old right-hander is currently functioning as New York's closer while Luke Weaver (hamstring) sits on the injured list, and the former is slowly rounding into form following a dreadful start to the year. Over his last 12.2 innings, Williams owns a 2.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 18:2 K:BB with four saves.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Nails down seventh save
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Williams earned the save in Friday's 9-6 win over the Red Sox, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Williams was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and worked around a hit-by-pitch to secure his second straight save since reclaiming the closer role. While his season line remains rough at a 6.08 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 30:12 K:BB across 23.2 innings, the 30-year-old has allowed runs in just three of 15 appearances since the start of May. With Luke Weaver (hamstring) sidelined for several weeks, he has a chance to reclaim the ninth-inning job for good.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Escapes with sixth save
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Williams gave up a run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Guardians.
With Luke Weaver (hamstring) on the shelf, Williams is being given another crack at the closer role, but he once again struggled to get the job done. The right-hander served up a one-out double to Carlos Santana before pinch hitter Daniel Schneemann pulled a changeup into right field for an RBI single, and Williams ultimately needed 30 pitches (22 strikes) to escape the frame. He has been pitching better of late, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over the 10 innings prior to Tuesday's appearance, but the Yankees do have options like Mark Leiter and Fernando Cruz available if Williams' April issues return.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Sliding back into closer role
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday in his appearance on Jomboy Media's "Talkin' Yanks" podcast that Williams will be the team's primary closer while Luke Weaver (hamstring) is sidelined.
Weaver is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks after straining his hamstring while warming up during Sunday's game against the Dodgers. Williams was removed from the closer role in late April but has pitched well lately, yielding just two runs with a 15:2 K:BB over his last 10 innings.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Punches out three in win
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Williams (1-2) came away with the win in Wednesday's extra-inning contest against the Padres, allowing one walk while striking out three batters in a scoreless 10th inning. He did not allow a hit.
With Luke Weaver being deployed in the ninth inning, the Yankees turned to Williams in the 10th to keep the game tied at 3-3. Williams struck out two of the first three batters he faced, and after loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch, he closed things out with a six-pitch punchout of Xander Bogaerts. Williams has started the season poorly with a 9.24 ERA across 12.2 innings, but he's been unscored upon in four of his five outings since being removed from the closer role.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Picks up hold Friday
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Williams earned a hold against Tampa Bay on Friday with a perfect inning of relief during which he struck out one batter.
Williams' effort Friday was another positive step forward after a brutal start to the campaign. Williams threw seven of his eight pitches for strikes against the Rays and extended his scoreless and hitless streak to three games since he was demoted from the closer role April 27. His outing Friday was in a relatively high-leverage situation -- the Yankees led by three in the eighth inning when he entered -- and was followed by a clean inning by Luke Weaver, who picked up his third save. Weaver has been dominant all season, so there's likely no urgency for Williams to reclaim New York's closer role, but the latter is at least looking like himself again after posting a 11.25 ERA through his first 10 appearances prior to his demotion.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Pitches clean inning in relief
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Williams struck out one batter in a scoreless inning in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday that Williams was being temporarily removed as the team's closer after the right-hander gave up three earned runs in consecutive appearances. Williams got a chance to work in a lower-leverage situation Monday, as New York trailed by one in the eighth inning when he entered the game. He had little trouble dispatching of the three Orioles batters he faced, needing 14 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the side in order. If Williams is able to smooth things out and put together a string of effective outings, he could move back into the closer role in due time.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Blows save opportunity
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Williams (0-2) took the loss after blowing the save Friday against the Blue Jays, giving up three runs on two hits in the ninth inning. He did not record an out.
Williams was brought in for the ninth inning to protect a 2-1 lead. After giving up a single and hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch, Williams surrendered that lead when Alejandro Kirk doubled to center field. Williams was tagged for a third run after being lifted. Friday marked Williams' first blown save opportunity but the second game in a row in which he gave up three earned runs. He has an 11.25 ERA and 2.38 WHIP over eight innings, and more outings like Friday's could lead to a change in who takes on closing duties out of the Yankees' bullpen.
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Yankees' Devin Williams: Tallies fourth save Thursday
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Williams earned the save after throwing a clean ninth inning in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Rays.
While he didn't record a strikeout, Williams put the Rays away on just six pitches (five strikes) Thursday. The All-Star closer has been shaky at times to begin his Yankees tenure, as evidenced by his 5.14 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB over seven innings, but Williams is unscored upon in his past four outings and has still converted each of his first four save chances as New York's closer.
