Yankees are learning the hard way what Reds fans already knew about Luke Weaver

The New York Yankees are in trouble. The defending American League champions are staring at an 0-2 hole in the ALDS, and are in danger of being swept right out of the MLB playoffs by their division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays.

There's no shortage of blame to go around. If you asked Yankees fans who's been the biggest disappointment during the postseason, answers would range from former Cincinnati Reds infielder (and current Yankees manager) Aaron Boone, to likely AL MVP Aaron Judge.

But one thing that all Yankees fans are sure to agree on is how poorly former Reds pitcher Luke Weaver has performed during the month of October. It took the Yankees reliever three games just to record a single out. Trusting Weaver is like leaning on a soap bubble; something Reds fans learned during his brief stint with the team in 2023.

Yankees are learning the hard way what Reds fans already knew about Luke Weaver

Weaver signed with the Reds in 2023 and was part of Cincinnati's starting rotation for the first-half of the season. It was arguably one of Weaver's worst performances throughout his Major League career, going 2-4 with a 6.87 ERA in 21 starts.

Many Reds fans decry the Weaver signing that year as one of the biggest reasons Cincinnati missed the playoffs. Had the Reds invested in a better starter during the offseason, or at least added one at the trade deadline, perhaps Cincy would've had enough to make a playoff push. The Reds were eliminated during the final weekend of the season that year, and the final Wild Card spot went to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After his release in 2023, Weaver made an abbreviated stop with the Seattle Mariners before being picked up by the Yankees. The veteran remained with the Yankees through the offseason and actually thrived in the Bronx that year. Weaver logged 84 innings in 2024 while recording four saves. His postseason performance was key to New York's World Series run, recording 16 punch outs in 15⅓ innings of work last October.

This season, however, Weaver has been a completely different pitcher. With New York's trade deadline additions, Weaver's role with the team has changed dramatically, and he saw an increase in ERA (3.62) and WHIP (1.021), and a decrease in his strikeout rate.

The Yankees need Weaver to bounce back in big way during Game 3 of the ALDS. New York has their backs against the wall, and if Weaver and the Yankees' pitching staff can't keep the Blue Jays' bats at bay, it'll be a quick exit for the best offense in baseball.