Yankees' Bullpen Struggles Raise Concerns Early in Season

Makeshift relief corps fails to hold leads in recent losses, putting pressure on lineup and rotation

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:00am

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The New York Yankees have gotten off to a strong 7-2 start to the 2026 season, but their bullpen has emerged as an early concern. Relievers like Jake Bird and Camilo Doval have struggled to protect leads, raising questions about the team's relief depth behind closer David Bednar and setup man Fernando Cruz. With the starting rotation also dealing with injuries, the Yankees' bullpen woes have put added pressure on the lineup to produce consistent offense.

Why it matters

The Yankees' bullpen issues are especially concerning given the team's aspirations to contend for a World Series title this season. If the relief corps continues to falter, it could undermine the efforts of the starting rotation and offense, potentially derailing the team's playoff hopes. Addressing the bullpen problems now could be crucial to the Yankees sustaining their early-season success.

The details

In the Yankees' two losses so far, the bullpen has been a major factor. On Sunday, Jake Bird gave up a decisive eighth-inning meltdown, while on Saturday, Camilo Doval allowed twice as many runs as he recorded outs, nearly squandering the team's comeback. Outside of closer David Bednar and setup man Fernando Cruz, manager Aaron Boone has limited trust in the rest of his relief options, including Paul Blackburn and Cade Winquest.

  • The Yankees have gotten off to a 7-2 start, the best in the American League, through the first two weeks of the 2026 season.
  • On April 6, 2026, the Yankees suffered their second loss of the season, with the bullpen struggling to hold a lead.

The players

David Bednar

The Yankees' closer, who has been one of the few reliable arms in the bullpen so far this season.

Fernando Cruz

The Yankees' primary setup man, who has also been a steady presence in the bullpen.

Jake Bird

A Yankees reliever who gave up a decisive eighth-inning meltdown in one of the team's losses.

Camilo Doval

A Yankees reliever who allowed twice as many runs as he recorded outs in a recent game, nearly squandering the team's comeback.

Aaron Boone

The Yankees' manager, who has limited trust in the team's relief options outside of Bednar and Cruz.

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What they’re saying

“Outside of closer David Bednar and Fernando Cruz, the Yankees don't have a lot of trust to place in their relief corps.”

— Madison Pavich, Author

What’s next

The Yankees will need to determine if they can shake up the bullpen by tapping into their minor league depth or if they will need to wait for the starting rotation to get healthy and push people down into the 'pen. The team's confidence in the current bullpen may be tested if the starting pitching does not continue to deliver strong outings.

The takeaway

The Yankees' bullpen struggles have emerged as an early-season concern, potentially undermining the team's strong start and aspirations for a World Series run. Addressing the relief corps issues, whether through internal adjustments or roster moves, could be crucial for the Yankees to sustain their success throughout the season.