Rising Stars in the Yankees’ Bullpen: The Secret Weapons Ready to Shine

Friday’s game against Tampa Bay proved to be another frustrating moment for the Yankees as they watched yet another lead slip away. This recurring issue underscores what might be the team’s most pressing concern as the trade deadline looms.

The bullpen, bolstered by three key signings last year, has unfortunately been a weak link this season.

Camilo Doval, for instance, has already matched last season’s home run tally, surrendering four in just 20 innings, compared to his total in 65 1/3 innings last year.

Meanwhile, Jake Bird has faced bouts of inconsistency, but there’s been a glimmer of improvement in his recent form. Over his last 10 outings, he has pitched 7 1/3 solid innings.

David Bednar, however, continues to struggle, grappling with preventing runners from reaching base and subsequently crossing home plate.

Of 200 qualified relievers, only 19 have a higher WHIP than Bednar, who’s pitched into some bad luck, but has also seen his strikeout rate dip from his career-best a year ago.

Last week, pitching coach Matt Blake said Bednar’s fastball command had been off, but he’d been impressed with the right-hander’s splitter and he’d look to use it more.

In Friday’s loss, marred by Tim Hill’s worst outing of the season out of the pen, Bednar did go to his split-fingered fastball with greater frequency and it helped him allow just one baserunner in a scoreless ninth.

They’ll target more prominent names as they get closer to the deadline — and also have some internal candidates.

In addition to Carlos Lagrange — still in the rotation at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — and perhaps lefty Ryan Weathers if the rotation is healthy when Max Fried returns from a left elbow bone bruise, the Yankees could look at right-hander Eric Reyzelman, who tossed two scoreless innings in his first outing for SWB on Friday.

The 24-year-old was just promoted from Double-A Somerset.

And they signed right-hander Peter Strzelecki to a minor league contract Saturday, as first reported by The Post’s Jon Heyman.

Strzelecki, 31, last pitched in the majors with Cleveland in 2024, but was selected to Milwaukee’s active roster last week and designated for assignment without getting into a game.

He struck out 20 in 19 ¹/₃ innings over 16 appearances with Triple-A Nashville this season and will head to SWB.