Coming off a string of poor outings since the All-Star break, Williams took the mound in the top of the 10th inning against the Houston Astros and immediately gave up a go-ahead single to Carlos Correa, followed by a crushing home run to Taylor Trammell. Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained that relievers David Bednar and Mark Leiter Jr. were unavailable due to recent heavy usage in the series against the Rangers. Still, turning to Williams in such a high-leverage situation was questionable, given his season ERA of 5.73.
“We’re trying to find lower-pressure situations for him,” Boone told Bill Ladson of MLB.com. “But that’s tough when your starter doesn’t go deep and you’re short on arms.” He added that the team is still hoping to get Williams back on track and reintegrated as a key bullpen piece.
However, it’s been shocking how far Williams — a two-time NL Reliever of the Year — has fallen. The situation is even more frustrating considering the Yankees traded for him with only a year left on his deal. While the team is trying to maximize their investment, Williams has now been directly responsible for three straight losses. Boone can’t keep prioritizing process over results, or the Yankees risk falling out of playoff contention altogether.
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