Another night in the Bronx, another heartbreak for the Yankees faithful. Well, under the bright Friday lights at Yankee Stadium, the stage was set for a tense battle of the bullpens between New York and Houston. And for much of the night, the game hung in the balance, until the late innings brought a now all-too-familiar script. Again, a shaky relief performance unraveled the Yankees’ hopes, and the Astros walked away with a 5-3 win in 10 innings.

So, with the loss, New York’s freefall continues as they’ve gone just 19-30 since June 13. Moreover, what has fans scratching their heads even more is the decision that set the stage for this latest stumble. Despite recent struggles, the same embattled pitcher was summoned once again by manager Aaron Boone. Now, as the frustration boils over, Boone has stepped forward to defend the controversial call. A call to place Devin Williams in the crucial 10th inning against the Astros.

“We’re kind of short down there at that point,” Boone said after Williams blew up the 10th inning. “You get five innings out of the starter. You’re trying to get back in it and get through, and staying away from Bednar today. So, then you’re probably even lighter, staying away.”

Well, the Yankees are desperate for wins right now, and using Devin Williams in high-leverage spots just isn’t working. But Aaron Boone keeps going to him. However, as per Boone, his options were limited. Notably, David Bednar had thrown 42 pitches over 1.2 innings in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers, so both Bednar and Mark Leiter Jr. were only available in an emergency.

And that left Williams, and the results were rough. If you have checked out the game, it was tied 2-2 at the top of the 10th, and Jose Altuve was starting on second as the automatic runner. But Williams uncorked a wild pitch that moved Altuve to third. The infield came in, but Carlos Correa lined a single up the middle to bring Altuve home. And a few batters later, Taylor Trammell launched a two-run homer, turning it into a three-run game.

So, it was the fourth home run Williams has given up in his last eight appearances. And for the third time in four games, he was pitching in the ninth inning or later… and couldn’t close the door.

“Not making pitches. It’s pretty simple. I stink right now.” Even Williams himself cannot justify his performance. Currently, he is standing with a 3-5 record and a 5.73 ERA. Enough to reflect his struggling status this year.

What future lies ahead for Devin Williams with the Yankees?

For the unversed, since the All-Star break, the Yankees have been in a tailspin, and a fair share of the blame is landing on closer Devin Williams. Reportedly, the right-hander has been called on eight times since the break, managing to convert four saves. But he’s also blown two opportunities and taken a loss. And what’s more troubling is the consistency of the damage.

He’s given up at least one run in six of those eight outings, which has made nearly every appearance an adventure!

So, the situation is surely tricky. On paper, a 5.44 ERA for your closer is a major red flag. But the Yankees haven’t completely lost faith. Williams has only blown three saves all season and has been charged with four losses. And one of those was in extra innings when the automatic runner scored, which isn’t even an earned run. Hence, those numbers, while not great, suggest he hasn’t been a total disaster, at least not by the box score alone.

Still, the struggles are hard to ignore. In the Yankees, the margin for error is thin, and the pressure is relentless. So, whether it’s the adjustment to the Bronx spotlight, mechanical issues, or just a bad stretch, Williams hasn’t looked like a shutdown closer lately. Yet Aaron Boone keeps turning to him, signaling that the Yankees still see him as part of the solution rather than the problem, at least for now.

Hence, if that confidence pays off, it could turn the tide for both Williams and the team. If not, the calls for change will only get louder.