Williams struck out one batter in a scoreless inning in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday that Williams was being temporarily removed as the team's closer after the right-hander gave up three earned runs in consecutive appearances. Williams got a chance to work in a lower-leverage situation Monday, as New York trailed by one in the eighth inning when he entered the game. He had little trouble dispatching of the three Orioles batters he faced, needing 14 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the side in order. If Williams is able to smooth things out and put together a string of effective outings, he could move back into the closer role in due time.

Manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday that Williams has been removed from the closer role "for right now," Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The writing was on the wall after Williams blew his first save of the season Friday against Toronto, which was the second straight appearance in which he allowed three earned runs. The right-hander has yet to truly look like himself in 10 outings with the Yankees and has an 11.25 ERA and 8:7 K:BB across eight innings. New York presumably plans to return Williams to the closer job at some point this year, but he'll need to right the ship in a lesser role before getting that opportunity. Luke Weaver, who took over as the Yankees' closer down the stretch last season, has yet to allow a run through 11 outings this year and could get the bulk of the save chances in the meantime.

The Yankees appear to be making a temporary change at closer after Williams squandered a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning Friday against Toronto, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports. "We'll see," manager Aaron Boone said when asked if Williams would benefit from moving to lower-leverage situations. "We'll kind of talk through this stuff. This is raw right now. We want to do everything we can to get him right, because we know how good he is and how valuable he is going to be for us."

EDGE Analysis

While Friday's blown save was Williams' first of the season, he has now allowed six earned runs in his last two appearances and sits with an 11.25 ERA through his first 10 appearances in pinstripes. Boone stopped short of announcing a role change, but Martino says there is virtually no way Boone would have answered the questions the way he did "if he hadn't already decided to give Williams a break from save situations." Luke Weaver took well to the ninth-inning role down the stretch last season and has pitched brilliantly so far in 2025, making him the clear-cut favorite for saves while Williams tries to figure things out in lower-leverage spots.

Williams (0-2) took the loss after blowing the save Friday against the Blue Jays, giving up three runs on two hits in the ninth inning. He did not record an out.

EDGE Analysis

Williams was brought in for the ninth inning to protect a 2-1 lead. After giving up a single and hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch, Williams surrendered that lead when Alejandro Kirk doubled to center field. Williams was tagged for a third run after being lifted. Friday marked Williams' first blown save opportunity but the second game in a row in which he gave up three earned runs. He has an 11.25 ERA and 2.38 WHIP over eight innings, and more outings like Friday's could lead to a change in who takes on closing duties out of the Yankees' bullpen.

Williams earned the save after throwing a clean ninth inning in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

While he didn't record a strikeout, Williams put the Rays away on just six pitches (five strikes) Thursday. The All-Star closer has been shaky at times to begin his Yankees tenure, as evidenced by his 5.14 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB over seven innings, but Williams has still converted each of his first four save chances as New York's closer.

Williams earned the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Royals, striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Williams got the call to come into the ninth inning to protect a 4-2 lead. He needed 16 pitches (11 of which were strikes) to get through the frame, finishing things off by punching out MJ Melendez to record his third save of the season. Williams has not given up a run over his last three outings and has struck out three batters while allowing two hits and two walks in those three innings.

Williams allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning while earning a save against the Royals on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Williams entered the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead and had to work out of a jam to close things out. He put two runners on base with one out but escaped unscathed with his first save since March 27. Through six appearances as a Yankee, Williams has yet to deliver a perfect inning out of the bullpen. He owns an uncharacteristic 7.20 ERA with a 7:6 K:BB through five innings.

Williams gave up three runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Brought in to protect a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning, Williams instead made a mess of things before Mark Leiter had to replace him and record the final out for his first save of the year. While it doesn't go down as a blown save or a loss for the Airbender, it's still the third time in his first four appearances as a Yankee that Williams has been charged with at least one run, leading to a 12.00 ERA and 5:4 K:BB through his first three innings in pinstripes. The average velocity on his fastball is down slightly to begin the season, but he topped out at 95.3 mph Wednesday on a strikeout of Colt Keith, and the movement on his elite changeup is in its usual range. All indicators suggest that Williams' numbers will quickly return to normal once the weather warms up.

The Yankees activated Williams from the paternity leave list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Williams missed this week's three-game series against the Diamondbacks while welcoming a new addition to his family. He'll be available to close as the Yankees begin a series in Pittsburgh this weekend.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Williams (personal) will be activated from the paternity leave list Friday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams will miss a third straight game Thursday while tending to more important family matters, but he will be back to resume closer duties for the weekend series in Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old gave up one run but recorded a save in his lone appearance this season.