Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Friday the team will discuss their closer situation Saturday, per The Wall Street Journal. Although, Girardi hinted Friday at leaning toward using Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller in the closer's role.
Girardi added there can be advantages to not naming a closer, particularly to allow flexibility to use Miller and Betances against left-handed and right-handed batters when needed.
“My thought has been more like with a power lefty who strikes out a lot of guys and a power righty, the lineups just might match up where one day he’s the eighth-inning guy and then one day he’s the ninth-inning guy a little bit better,” Giradri said, per The Journal News. “… I think you start managing who you’re going to use (in the ninth) in about the sixth inning, because you try to prepare them.”
Betances entered the spring as the favorite for the closer's role, but he has struggled this spring amid reports of diminished velocity. He has a 6.14 ERA and nearly as many walks (five) as strikeouts (six) in eight appearances.
Miller is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA and eight strikeouts in eight relief outings.
“I’ve talked to both (Miller and Betances)” Girardi said. “They’re concerned about winning more than (roles), in the sense of I’m this guy, I’m this guy. That’s the sense I’ve got from them. Now, could it iron itself out and you start to do it one way? Yes.
"I’ll continue to talk about it with my coaches and (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) and his feelings about it as they get a feel, and Gary Tuck who’s in the bullpen, what do you think the importance of it is that we actually set a role? But as of right now, we haven’t felt that we have to.”