NEW YORK – Before diving into the Yankees’ fortunate, 6-5 playoff opening win against the Kansas City Royals, who made the costlier missteps, let us re-introduce Luke Weaver, the pinstriped October surprise you didn’t know you needed.
A year ago, Weaver posted a 6.87 ERA as a Cincinnati Reds starter.
A month ago, having graduated into a valuable setup man, Weaver was on the brink of stepping into the closer’s void – not ideal timing for a win-now club trying to clinch the AL East.
Any ideas about a bullpen by committee were shelved by Weaver, who became a committee of one down the stretch and closed out Game 1 of the best-of-five AL Division Series.
After 10 years of knocking around the big leagues, Weaver was asked if he was built for this role.
“Well, it’s sure not my size,’’ said Weaver, a right-hander with the wry take of an oft-centered lefty. “Even though I feel like being wiry is a very internally strong foundational attribute.’’