Yankees takeaways: David Bednar isn't himself, and there's no quick fix

AL EastBlue JaysOriolesRaysRed SoxYankeesAL CentralGuardiansRoyalsTigersTwinsWhite SoxAL WestAngelsAstrosAthleticsMarinersRangersNL EastBravesMarlinsMetsNationalsPhilliesNL CentralBrewersCardinalsCubsPiratesRedsNL WestDiamondbacksDodgersGiantsPadresRockiesScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsThe Windup NewsletterFantasyMLB ProspectsMLB OddsMLB PicksPower RankingsStarting Pitcher RankingsMLB Latest David Bednar blew a save — and the Subway Series — on Sunday. His ERA rose to 4.95, as did the concern about the closer role. New York Yankees / Getty Images Share articleNEW YORK — New York Yankees closer David Bednar, who has spent much of this season walking a tightrope, fell off Sunday — and it put in bold print another problem in manager Aaron Boone’s already wobbly bullpen. Bednar squandered a three-run, ninth-inning lead, allowing the New York Mets to win 7-6 in 10 innings and prevail in the first Subway Series of the season, at Citi Field. “It’s unacceptable,” he said. “Especially in that spot.” The events were in some ways familiar to anyone who’s watched Bednar enough this season. First he allowed a single to Carson Benge, then another to Bo Bichette. Then he recovered, getting Juan Soto to ground into a force-out before striking out Mark Vientos. But Bednar’s high-wire act turned disastrous when he gave up a first-pitch home run to Tyrone Taylor to deep left field, which tied the score at 6-6. Taylor has a .532 OPS, and he hasn’t been much of a power threat since 2022, when he hit a career-high 17 homers. But he had no problem handling a curveball Bednar served him right over the plate. “It was just a classic hanging breaking ball,” Boone said. Bednar has had trouble since last season, when he steadied the closer role for the Yankees, who were disappointed with Devin Williams at the time. After they acquired Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline, he had a 2.19 ERA in 19 appearances with 10 saves. He was good in the playoffs, giving up just one earned run in five outings. This year, however, has been a different story — and it’s cause for concern given the club’s other options for the closer. With Sunday’s letdown, Bednar’s ERA inflated to 4.95 over 20 games. His 1.55 WHIP is way above his career average of 1.18. He’s blown two saves out of 12 tries — one fewer than he had all last season. Bednar has had trouble in two dangerous ways. Batters who’ve led off an inning against him have combined for a .313 average, a .421 on-base percentage and a .734 OPS. With two outs, batters are hitting .308 against him with a .333 OBP and a .756 OPS. Bednar acknowledged he’s having problems “putting guys away early.” Also, Bednar gave up a run in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ win Friday, and he’s allowed at least one base runner in 15 of 20 games. A point in Bednar’s favor? He may be slowly reclaiming some of the fastball velocity he’s lacked early in the season. Sunday, his fastball sat at 96.3 mph, after averaging 95.8 entering the day. Last season, Bednar’s heater averaged 97.1 mph. The Yankees aren’t at a point where they have to take Bednar out of the closer’s role. But they don’t really have any other appetizing options should he continue to struggle. Fernando Cruz (2.37 ERA, 22 games) would likely be next in line. Camilo Doval closed games for the San Francisco Giants, but he’s struggled, with a 5.90 ERA in 20 appearances and three blown saves. The bullpen has always looked like a likely area for the Yankees to upgrade before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Perhaps they’ll be looking at a repeat of last season’s deadline, when they added multiple relievers, but a better Bednar would make their needs less acute. The Mets won via walk-off when Benge’s soft hopper over the mound led to a collision between shortstop Anthony Volpe and fifth infielder Max Schuemann that allowed Marcus Semien to score from third base. Schuemann fielded the ball cleaning with his backhand and seemed poised to throw home, but Volpe ran into him. Both players were charging hard for the ball, which was their plan. Schuemann might have had a chance to throw out Semien, but it would have been close. Boone said he didn’t think even Schuemann had a chance at him. Boone and Volpe said the ball was in “no man’s land.” The manager said the Yankees played the infield in because, with one out and Luis Torrens the runner on first base, they thought it would be too difficult to double up the speedy Benge at first. “Yeah I picked it pretty clean,” Scheumann said.” I didn’t really get to see — it would have been (a) bang-bang (play) either way. It was a high chopper over the mound. I like being aggressive in that situation either way. It’s kind of like one of those do-or-die plays. Just didn’t go our way.” Said Volpe: “We’re just both trying to make a play, reacting and that’s do-or-die and that’s the game.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms