The boos started softly, then built into a full Bronx roar. One inning earlier, Yankee Stadium had hope, a 2-2 tie, a starter who had done his job, and a chance to take control late. But in the seventh, it all unraveled. Fernando Cruz walked two, hit another, and threw a wild pitch before Mark Leiter Jr. even had a chance to stop the bleeding. By the time the Yankees recorded an out, eight Tigers had crossed the plate, and the game, along with the crowd’s patience, was gone.

It wasn’t just another loss. This was their second double-digit loss following a defeat of 10 runs the night before. The Yankees had just managed to narrow the gap in the AL East by winning 2 out of 3 games against Toronto. But instead of momentum, they got humiliation. Tuesday night felt like a turning point, the moment where a frustrating bullpen went from problem to crisis.

“The bullpen is giving up the majority of the runs,” Stacey Gotsulias said on Locked On Yankees. “The two starters were fine in these two starts. They should have had wins in these two starts. She said, But the offense isn’t doing anything and the bullpen is imploding on a nightly basis.”

The numbers back it up. Since the All-Star break, Yankees relievers rank in the bottom third of the American League in ERA and WHIP, with high-leverage situations becoming a house of horrors. They were supposed to be stabilizing forces, but both now sport ERAs over 4.00.

The AL East race remains winnable, but time is running out. New York sits just a couple of games back of Toronto, yet another week like this could bury their shot at the division and force them into a wild-card dogfight. Boone’s decisions now carry extra weight. Does he keep trusting veterans like Cruz and Leiter in leverage situations, or turn to younger arms and hope fresh legs stabilize the late innings?

Aaron Boone backs Volpe, confident struggles won’t derail Yankees’ push

Aaron Boone isn’t flinching when it comes to Anthony Volpe. Speaking on the Talkin’ Yanks podcast, the Yankees manager shot down calls to bench the young shortstop, insisting that Volpe’s best baseball is still ahead of him. “I’m still hoping that Anthony’s best is in front of him,” Boone said, acknowledging the struggles but refusing to waver. For Boone, this isn’t about protecting Volpe; it’s about betting on his long-term value in the middle of a tight playoff race.

Boone has noticed subtle improvements that give him confidence that Volpe is turning a corner. “He’s started to get some traction going,” Boone said. He emphasized that the club wants him to get hot offensively down the lane. Boone’s decision to characterize Volpe’s development as a work in progress represents a show of support during a critical period where each play holds heightened importance. It clearly signals that the Yankees aren’t ready to pull the plug on their starting shortstop.

That doesn’t mean Boone hasn’t weighed other options. He admitted he’s considered starting trade-deadline acquisition José Caballero over Volpe. “I think about it every day. I even considered it for today,” Boone said candidly. But Caballero’s versatility might be more valuable coming off the bench, where he’s already provided a spark, hitting .233 with a .765 OPS and swiping nine bases since joining New York. Boone hinted Caballero will still get starts down the stretch, but his comments make it clear: Volpe remains the guy, and Caballero is the insurance policy.