The New York Yankees have a plethora of big-time names in their bullpen.
From Aroldis Chapman to Zack Britton to Chad Green, the team has no shortage of superstar relievers.
But could those same superstars be the reason the team falls apart in 2021?
It’s not impossible.
Each of those players has had a rough go lately, and things aren’t exactly getting better.
With the Yankees engaged in an all-out battle with the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card race, there’s very little margin for error.
Let’s take a look at the situation and evaluate the best way forward for New York.
Chapman’s Struggles
Chapman was one of the best relievers in baseball in the early going this season.
He had a 0.39 ERA up until early June.
It was around that time that everything changed for the flamethrower.
Coincidence or not, he started to decline as soon as the league instituted stricter rules for foreign substances.
Since June 10, he has a 7.85 ERA.
That’s not what you want from your best bullpen arm.
Amid his struggles, he hit the injured list for a couple of weeks with elbow inflammation.
He’s back now, but in his absence, the Yankees turned to Britton and Green for increased roles.
That didn’t go very well.
Britton’s Struggles
As mentioned, Britton saw an increased role in Chapman’s absence.
Britton’s entire season has been rocky, but when the Yankees turned to him as one of their temporary closers, his year got even worse.
Here’s all you need to know: He has a 7.20 ERA since August 9.
His woes reached a season-worst when he allowed a walk-off home run on a massive stage in the first-ever “Field of Dreams” game.
The Field of Dreams game was actually awesome pic.twitter.com/VtVkj6PvY9
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) August 13, 2021
The lefty was placed on the injured list Monday with an elbow strain.
Aaron Boone says Zack Britton had some elbow inflammation on Sunday, got an MRI and it "showed a small strain in there."
They're getting multiple opinions on it now, so they'll have more clarity on the next steps over the next several days, Boone said.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) August 23, 2021
New York is certainly hoping that he will look like his vintage self when he returns.
Green’s Struggles
Green’s last couple of months have been shaky.
He has a 5.82 ERA since July 11, and opponents have an OPS of .830 against him during that span.
He blew multiple saves during Chapman’s IL stint, but fortunately, the Yankees found a way to win the games that Green blew saves in.
On the year, he has a 3.13 ERA, 3.49 FIP, and 0.85 WHIP.
He’s obviously a capable arm, but he has yet to show it this summer.
That needs to change soon.
What’s Next?
For New York to have a serviceable bullpen situation, Chapman needs to be successful.
When he’s at his best, he is one of the most lights-out closers in baseball.
If he pitches like we all know he can, then the Yankees can relieve Green and Britton of their suboptimal closer-by-committee roles.
That would allow everyone to assume their normal responsibilities, which is undeniably the best possible scenario.
In his first outing off the IL, Chapman didn’t look great.
Over two-thirds of an inning, he allowed a run on a solo shot.
But in his second outing, he looked much better.
He worked a clean frame against a sneaky-good Atlanta Braves team, locking down a 5-1 win in a non-save situation.
That’s what the Yankees need to see.
NEXT: 3 Biggest Disappointments For Yankees So Far In 2021