CHICAGO — Zack Britton may have blown his last save for a while.
Manager Aaron Boone said on WFAN on Friday that the Yankees will consider making a change in the closer role, as Britton continues to struggle — most recently in Thursday’s loss to the White Sox, when he allowed a game-winning two-run homer to Tim Anderson in the “Field of Dreams” game.
Boone said it had been “a consideration’’ to use Jonathan Loaisiga for the ninth on Thursday.
“We thought the right move once we got the lead was to go to [Britton],’’ Boone said. “We’ll evaluate that as we go forward a little bit as we try to get him back to where we know he can get to.”
It was the latest shaky outing from Britton, who has been filling in as closer because Aroldis Chapman is on the injured list with left elbow inflammation.
Britton acknowledged last week he had been “pitching like s–t” for most of the season — and that was before he blew Thursday’s game. Britton has allowed 11 earned runs, 12 walks and two homers in just 15 ²/₃ innings, while striking out just 12 over 18 appearances after coming back from an offseason bout with COVID-19, spring training elbow surgery, and a more recent strained hamstring.
Boone said the key for Britton is “just dialing in that command [and] control.”
“Zack Britton has been one of the best relievers in our sport for a long time. Getting him back to that point with his delivery and confidence is gonna be important for us. We have to figure out how to work him back into that elite role.”
Loaisiga and Chad Green have both been used in save situations when Chapman has previously been unavailable.
Clint Frazier’s rehab assignment was moved from Low-A Tampa to Double-A Somerset on Friday, as he attempts to come back from a still unspecified ailment that has sidelined him since June. It’s unclear where Frazier would fit in on the Yankees’ roster, but he has a minor league option remaining, so he doesn’t have to return to the majors after his rehab stint.
Estevan Florial was returned to Triple-A on Friday after serving as the Yankees’ 27th man Thursday against the White Sox. … Chris Gittens was reinstated from the 10-day IL and optioned to Triple-A.
