Injuries have derailed the New York Yankees in the second half, to the point that they are 14-22 since the All-Star break.
Pitching has been the most affected department.
The team has lost several starters and relievers, including their best one, Clay Holmes.
He went to the injured list two weeks ago with back tightness, but is now ready to return and show the world he can still be the dominant, shutdown late-inning reliever he was in the first half.
“The #Yankees have optioned RHP Luke Bard to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This will make room for RHP Clay Holmes, who is scheduled to come off the injured list tonight in Anaheim,” Bronx Bombers news tweeted.
The #Yankees have optioned RHP Luke Bard to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
This will make room for RHP Clay Holmes, who is scheduled to come off the injured list tonight in Anaheim.
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) August 29, 2022
Holmes has been magnificent in 2022, with a 2.39 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 51/16 K/BB ratio in 49 innings.
He Had Been Struggling Before Hitting The Injured List
He had been struggling a lot in his last 15 games, however, with an elevated 7.43 ERA in 13.1 frames.
His last seven games were even worse, with a 10.50 ERA in six innings, in which he allowed seven earned runs and seven walks.
It seemed like opposing hitters had finally figured Holmes out, considering he was absolutely elite in the first half with a 1.31 ERA.
There is a theory circulating around a circle of Yankees fans that the team had Holmes go on the IL with a “phantom” injury for the team’s pitching masterminds to try and fix him in time for the playoffs.
It’s impossible to prove, however, and the official version has him suffering some back tightness in the last couple of weeks.
He is over the issue at this point, and will have to regain his form in order to win back his closer job.
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