Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers highlighted these ongoing struggles. After closer Clay Holmes blew a save opportunity in the ninth inning, the Yankees found themselves with another chance to secure the win in the 10th inning. With a one-run lead, they turned to Leiter, but he failed to record an out, allowing the Tigers to walk off with a victory and take the series.

This defeat was especially painful considering Marcus Stroman’s stellar performance, where he delivered six scoreless innings. Relievers Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle also contributed by not allowing a hit in their respective innings. However, Leiter’s inability to close the game overshadowed these efforts.

Leiter was expected to be a crucial piece in the Yankees’ bullpen, largely due to his impressive strikeout rates. While he continues to strike out batters at a high rate (11.9 K/9), his propensity to give up runs in key moments has been alarming. In 11 appearances with the Yankees, Leiter has posted a 6.48 ERA and has surrendered two home runs.

His recent performances have been particularly concerning, as he has given up at least one earned run in three of his last four outings. This comes at a time when the Yankees are in desperate need of reliable bullpen arms. Despite high hopes, Leiter has not lived up to expectations, and his struggles have further thinned an already depleted bullpen.

If these issues persist, the Yankees may need to limit Leiter’s role in high-leverage situations, potentially leaning more on Weaver and Kahnle for late-game relief. Michael Tonkin might also see increased opportunities in crucial moments. Additionally, the Yankees may consider adjusting Leiter’s pitch mix, reducing his reliance on fastballs in favor of more offspeed pitches like his splitter and curveball, which have proven more effective.

While there is still time for Leiter to turn things around and become a valuable reliever for the team, the current results are concerning, and the Yankees need improvements sooner rather than later