Devin Williams Struggles Again as Yankees Drop Another Game

The New York Yankees’ recent woes deepened Friday night after a crushing 5-3, extra-inning loss to the Houston Astros. Closer Devin Williams endured another rough outing.

October dreams aren’t dead yet, but they’re definitely fading. Williams’ struggles have become an alarming subplot, and people are asking hard questions about his role in the bullpen and whether this team can actually close out tight games down the stretch.

Devin Williams’ Prolonged Slump Continues

Friday’s game was supposed to be a chance for the Yankees to stop the bleeding after a recent skid. Instead, fans got more of the same costly late-inning frustration.

Williams entered a 10th-inning tie and surrendered a tiebreaking RBI single to Carlos Correa — a guy who always seems to deliver in clutch spots. Then Taylor Trammell launched a two-run homer off him, sealing the Yankees’ fate and handing them their sixth loss in seven games.

This latest meltdown means Williams has now allowed four home runs in his last eight outings. That’s a stark contrast from his usual reliability.

Since July 29, he’s given up runs in five straight appearances. That includes two blown saves and two losses over his last four games.

Statistically One of His Toughest Seasons

Williams has already given up 28 earned runs this season, more than he allowed across the 2022 to 2024 campaigns combined. The sudden downturn has people speculating about his mechanics and confidence.

Williams didn’t sugarcoat things after the loss. He told reporters, “I stink right now.” He even compared this slump to the tough stretch he had after Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Aaron Boone Balancing Faith and Strategy

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is sticking by his guy, at least for now. Boone said he’ll keep putting Williams in games, but he’s also planning to look for “softer landing spots” — lower-pressure situations to help Williams regain his command and confidence.

Friday’s bullpen choices were limited, partly because David Bednar and Mark Leiter Jr. had both pitched heavily in recent days. Boone had fewer options for those high-leverage spots late in the game.

Impact on the Yankees’ Season

For a team fighting to stay in postseason contention, late-game lapses feel huge. The Yankees are now just 3-8 in extra-inning games this year.

Repeatedly losing close contests doesn’t just hurt their record — it chips away at morale in the clubhouse and among fans. You can feel the tension mounting.

• Williams has now struggled in five straight appearances, giving up runs each time.
• The Yankees have dropped six of their last seven, and playoff hopes are wobbling.
• Extra-inning struggles (3-8 record) are a glaring issue.

Astros Maintain AL West Edge

While the Yankees try to sort themselves out, the Houston Astros quietly picked up another important win. That’s three wins in four games for them, helping them stay on top of the AL West even with some recent bumps.

Correa and Trammell delivered timely hits, and Houston’s bullpen locked things down in extras. That’s the formula the Astros needed, plain and simple.

Looking Ahead

The Yankees need to steady their bullpen. They’re searching for the sharp execution that once made their late-game pitching so tough to beat.

Boone hopes that taking some pressure off Williams will help him get back on track. It’s tough to say if that approach will actually work.

Williams’ recent stats aren’t great, but his past shows he’s bounced back before. Remember his 2018 comeback after surgery? That grit is still in there somewhere.

This season, every inning feels important. New York can’t afford many mistakes now.

If the Yankees want a real shot at the postseason, their bullpen has to step up fast. Williams, especially, needs to flip the script and become a strength again.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Yanks’ Williams on latest loss: ‘I stink right now’