Yankees’ Trust in Luke Weaver Crumbles
Luke Weaver has been the New York Yankees’ biggest bullpen question all October. On Saturday, that question only grew louder.
Handed the ball in the seventh inning of the ALDS opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, Weaver faced three batters. He didn’t record an out. A single, a walk, and another sharp base hit were enough to bring Aaron Boone to the mound. The Blue Jays broke the game open, and the Yankees’ bullpen construction — already a fragile storyline — tilted toward disaster.
It came just four days after Weaver unraveled in the Wild Card opener against Boston, giving away a one-run lead in the same spot. Two outings, two collapses, and no clean inning to steady his October.
Boone’s Defense
Boone stuck by Weaver after the loss.
“It can click like that because the stuff is there,” Boone told reporters in Toronto. “We’ve just got to get him locked in with his delivery.”
That line underscores why Weaver made the roster in the first place. Boone has leaned on him all season, trusting his swing-and-miss fastball and postseason experience even when the results have dipped.
The Numbers
Weaver’s 2025 season was steady on paper: a 3.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts across 64.2 innings in 64 appearances. His Statcast profile shows an average exit velocity allowed of 89.2 mph and a 36.6 percent hard-hit rate. Those numbers that reveal how thin the margin for error can be when his command drifts.
Those numbers made him a trusted middle-innings arm during the regular season, but his recent slide has been glaring. He has been scored upon in five of his last eight outings dating back to September.
That falloff stands in sharp contrast to last October, when Weaver was a vital piece of the Yankees’ World Series run. In 2024, he posted a 1.76 ERA across 12 postseason appearances, striking out 16 and locking down four saves. His ability to handle leverage was one of Boone’s biggest assets.
The Tipping Concern
Postgame in Toronto, Weaver hinted at a deeper problem. He suggested he hasn’t felt completely comfortable on the mound, hinting heavily that they believe he is tipping his pitches.
Toronto hitters seemed locked in on him. It would explain why his last two postseason outings unraveled so quickly. Against Boston, it was a walk and a two-run single. Against Toronto, three batters reached in a row. In both games, hitters looked ready for what was coming.
What It Means for the Yankees
The Yankees built their roster with Weaver as one of Boone’s trusted middle-inning options, a veteran presence to bridge games to Devin Williams and David Bednar. But after back-to-back October meltdowns, and now questions about pitch tipping, the calculation changes. Boone’s bullpen is suddenly thinner. p.
Boone isn’t ready to give up on Weaver, at least not publicly. But October is unforgiving. The Yankees entered this postseason counting on Weaver as an anchor. Two outings in, they’re left wondering if he has become their biggest liability.
Police Issue Statement After Former Broncos QB Gets Stabbed & Hospitalized
The Denver Broncos only rostered former No. 5 overall draft pick and quarterback Mark Sanchez for a brief time. Still, the latest news around the current Fox Sports analyst is jarring nonetheless, as reactions from around the
Sanchez was drafted by the New York Jets in 2009. He joined the Broncos via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2016.
He never played a game for Denver, which released him before the 2016 season began.
Ex-Broncos QB Mark Sanchez Stabbed in Indianapolis
GettyTV Announcer and former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez on the field before a game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
Now, Sanchez is back in the news for a far more ominous reason, with reports surfacing that he was stabbed while on assignment covering the
“IMPD is investigating a disturbance that happened near Senate Avenue and West Washington Street on October 4 around 12:30 a.m. “The incident involved two adult males, resulting in one man receiving lacerations and the other injuries consistent with stab wounds. Detectives believe this is an isolated incident between two men and not a random act of violence,”
“Both individuals, who are not local residents, have been identified. IMPD Aggravated Assault detectives are continuing their investigation and have reviewed video footage of the incident. Both men received medical treatment. The man with the apparent stab wounds remains hospitalized in stable condition.”
IMPD’s statement continued to say “the case will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for a charging decision.”
They will not release any identities “unless the suspect is arrested, charged, or being sought.”
Sanchez finished his 10-year career in the NFL with 15,357 yards, 86 touchdowns, and 89 interceptions on 56.6% completion, a 37-36 record as a starter. He banked $66.3 million in career earnings
ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially framed the incident as a “robbery,” but the IMPD’s statement does not make that abundantly clear.
At any rate, the ex-Broncos QB Sanchez’s incident will continue to impact the league.
NFL World Reacts to Mark Sanchez Stabbing Report
GettyMark Sanchez #6 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support,”
Sanchez spent eight years in the NFL, suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders along the way.
This will interrupt Sanchez’s work in the booth.
“Sanchez was scheduled to be part of the broadcast crew for Sunday’s game between the
His first team, the
“Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family,” the
Former QB The Athletic analyst Chase Daniel posted, “Holy cow. Prayers with Mark.”
Fox will broadcast two Broncos games this season – Week 12 at the Houston Texans and Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars – but it has yet to be determined if Sanchez will be on the call.
