Luke Weaver leading Yankees’ bullpen into 2024 ALDS

NEW YORK — The memory remains fresh in the mind’s eye more than a decade later, a staple of what October life in the Bronx once was. The bullpen door would swing open at one of the Yankee Stadiums, old or new, the electric strains of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” filling the crisp air.

You knew Mariano Rivera was about to cross the outfield grass, throw a handful of cutters, and perhaps shatter a bat or two. More often than not, the game was over. The choices are not so automatic for these Yankees, but they steadfastly believe they have the personnel to lock down leads in this postseason.

“We feel really good about it,” pitching coach Matt Blake said on Wednesday. “You’ve got five or six high-leverage options that can help us navigate the back end of the game maybe a little bit differently than we have in the past.”

Though Luke Weaver made sure to clarify that he does not view himself as the Yankees’ closer, saying that he considers himself just “someone who goes out there and tries to get outs,” the ninth inning will be Weaver’s most likely assignment in the playoffs after 13 blown saves prompted Clay Holmes’ exit from the role.

“I would expect him to, hopefully, close out some games for us, but he could find himself in a different inning if it calls for it,” manager Aaron Boone said of Weaver. “He’s definitely one of the best we’ve got down there.”

Notching his first save chance on Sept. 6 at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Weaver was nearly overcome by emotion; he remarked after that outing that he “blacked out” and “couldn’t see straight.”

The task got easier with each succeeding opportunity; Weaver finished the year 4-for-4 in save chances, including a five-out performance that sealed a 7-4 victory over the Athletics on Sept. 22 in Oakland.

“I know I surprised the world a little bit, but I feel like this game is hard,” Weaver said. “This game comes with a lot of success and a lot of failure. In my account, the failure has definitely filled up a lot of the chapters, but it was for good reason. It prepared me for this moment, to pitch in a city like this, on a team that’s as good as they are.”

Over his final eight appearances, Weaver limited opponents to one unearned run and four hits across 11 innings, walking three while striking out 24.

If those numbers seem like they could have belonged to a certain someone else, consider this: Rivera never had an eight-game span with as many strikeouts, as few hits and as few walks (though he had four comparable stretches of the 1996 season, with four walks allowed in each).

“He’s definitely performed well in the biggest moments of the regular season so far,” Boone said of Weaver. “He’s a better pitcher than he’s probably ever been in his life, and that’s a credit to him for some of the adjustments he’s made and how he’s embraced going to the bullpen. He’s had an outstanding season.”

Sure, comparisons to Rivera are unfair for Weaver, as they were for Rafael Soriano, Aroldis Chapman, Holmes and anyone else who has assumed the title in the seasons since Rivera tearfully handed the baseball over to Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte in his final appearance.

Weaver said on Tuesday that he has yet to even shake hands with Rivera, let alone swap tips, though he has admired the sport’s only unanimous Hall of Famer from afar.

“We hear stories,” Weaver said. “I asked [bullpen coach] Mike Harkey about different fun things at this time with him. There are things to learn. I hope one day we can have a good conversation if it lines up.”

The preceding statistical note illustrates how terrific of a surprise Weaver has been, authoring a remarkable turnaround after the journeyman was cut loose by the Mariners and Reds last summer.

With his career at a potential crossroads, Weaver ditched his slider and curveball while increasing the usage of his cutter. He also tweaked his grip to transform his four-seam fastball into an elite offering, picking up velocity and two to three inches of vertical rise.

Weaver has also added a couple of inches of depth to his changeup with an adjusted grip, creating valuable separation from the fastball, and flashes a cutter that acts more like a slider to right-handed batters.

“His mentality in the bullpen has been attack mode, and you’ve seen some really good strikeout weapons from him,” Blake said. “Sometimes, relievers have one-and-a-half pitches, and he’s got three or four options, which is nice.”

The Yankees are still tinkering with the last few spots of their bullpen, though for reference, they carried 12 pitchers in the 2022 ALDS against Cleveland.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón have been announced as the starters for ALDS Games 1 and 2, respectively, with Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt still being considered for the Game 3 start. Schmidt will be available in relief for Games 1 and 2.

Blake said that Jake Cousins (right pectoral strain) is expected to be healthy in time for the ALDS, and that Holmes will be freed to pitch in some lanes against right-handed batters. Blake mentioned Ian Hamilton, Tim Hill, Tim Mayza and Tommy Kahnle as difference-makers as well.

“I feel like a lot of them are throwing the ball well,” Boone said. “They complement each other well down there with some different skill sets, some different attributes. Hopefully that serves us well moving forward, and hopefully a lot of them can continue to throw the ball the way they are right now.”