NEW YORK—Arcilla Holmes is rediscovering his lead at a crucial time for the New York Yankees.
A little more than a month since he was removed from his closer role, Holmes has allowed two runs in his last 14 outings and the right-hander's five flawless innings helped the Yankees eliminate the Kansas Metropolis Royals in their AL Division Series. American League.
The next opponent is the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.
Holmes was 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 30 saves in 67 appearances. He led the majors with 13 blown saves and was removed from the closer's role after allowing a game-ending grand slam to Texas rookie Wyatt Langford on September 3.
He blew two more saves on September 11 and 18 against Kansas Metropolis and Seattle, respectively, but also had eight more scoreless outings to help the Yankees gain home-field advantage during the American League playoffs.
“I think for me, my confidence, my identity, who I am, what I can do, isn't really tied so much to any title that's been given to me,” Holmes said Saturday during a video conference while the Yankees were training.
The Yankees outscored the Royals 14-12 in their playoff matchup and their relievers combined for 15 2/3 scoreless innings. It was the third-most shutout innings by a team's relievers in postseason history behind Minnesota's 18 1/3 innings in the 1991 American League Championship Series against Toronto and the 17 pitched by the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Cubs in the 2017 National League Championship Series.
“It's fun,” Holmes said. “We obviously have a good group there. We had a lot of fun. We are quite united. We all support each other. Seeing that happen was great. I think that's what we're capable of and that's what we know we can do.”
Holmes appeared in every game of a series where each game was decided by two runs or less and was victorious in the series opener. In Game 3, Holmes relieved Clarke Schmidt and stranded two runners in the fifth and pitched 1 1/3 innings. In the decider, he pitched a 1-2-3 eighth before closer Luke Weaver recorded his third save of the series.
“What I keep saying even when he had a tough time there is that we're looking at a really good pitcher and that's coming through right now,” supervisor Aaron Boone said.
Holmes threw his sinker 56.3% of the time in the general season, up from 69.5% in 2023. In the last month, he threw the pitch 67.1% of the time and allowed a .200 average.
Against Kansas Metropolis, 41 of his 58 pitches were sinkers and he attributed the recent success to better grip.
“Most of the time, when I'm at my best, my sinker is really good,” Holmes said. “I think I set out to realize that. I started throwing it more and knew I had to get back to it.”
The Yankees' Game 1 starter
Boone said the Yankees will decide their starter for Game 1 on Sunday, but it won't be rookie Luis Gil.
Carlos Rodón, who would have started Game 5 of the ALDS on Saturday, is a candidate and Boone said Gerrit Cole is possible for Game 2 against Cleveland.
Gil, who did not pitch in the ALDS, will start later in the series. Gil was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts after missing last season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery.
Gil, who last pitched on Sept. 28 against Pittsburgh, will pitch in a simulated game on Sunday.
The Yankees had 11 pitchers on their ALDS roster and Boone said at least one pitcher will be added for the ALCS.
Will Rizzo play in the American League Championship Series?
Anthony Rizzo's availability for the American League Championship Series remains uncertain two weeks after the first baseman fractured two fingers on his right hand while being hit by a pitch against Pittsburgh.
Boone said Rizzo is making progress, but mostly with treatments and little baseball activities. The Yankees will make a decision on Rizzo's status on Monday shortly before releasing their roster.
In the ALDS, utility men Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti split time at first base. The duo combined for 27 putouts and Berti started a key double play in the sixth inning of Game 4.
“I certainly liked what I saw of Cabby and Berti in that first series,” Boone said. “He really played a good role for us.”
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