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2024 MLB Playoffs: Dodgers bullpen Mookie Betts fights back to tie the NLDS and force a Game 5 Hurricane Milton devastates Florida with tornadoes and flooding, leaving millions without power

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The New York Yankees are counting on reliever Luke Weaver to help them in the 2024 MLB postseason, much to the surprise of many Reds fans who balked at him being slated to start for Cincinnati in 2023.

In the first playoff pitching appearances of his career, the Yankees used him in high-leverage situations in each of their first three games of the National League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals.

In Game 3 on Wednesday, Weaver started with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning, with the Yankees hoping he could record a save with five outs. Weaver allowed two hits in the 8th but preserved the Yankees' 3-2 lead. He retired the Royals to record his second save of the series in the bottom of the 9th.

Weaver faced five batters in the first two games, striking out three of them without a walk or a hit and earning his first-ever postseason save.

Weaver continued to impress for the Yankees during the regular season, posting a 7-3 record and a career-high 2.89 ERA in 62 appearances, striking out 103 in 84 innings.

It was a completely different story for Weaver in 2023 with the Cincinnati Reds. In 21 appearances (all starts) for the Reds, Weaver posted a 6.87 ERA and allowed 24 home runs in 97 innings. He was released by the Reds last August.

What happened for Weaver between then and now? What you should know about the 31-year-old from DeLand, Florida:

Weaver was used exclusively as a reliever for the first time in his MLB career.

After the Reds released Weaver, the Mariners signed him and he posted a 6.08 ERA in five appearances for Seattle. The Yankees selected him on waivers from the Mariners last September, and he made three starts for New York toward the end of the 2023 season.

He was a candidate to start for the Yankees during spring training, but they moved him to the bullpen instead. And it was the best season he's had since posting a 2.94 ERA in 12 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019.

Weaver was a first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2014 MLB Draft.

Weaver was taken 27th overall in the draft, eight picks after the Reds selected right-handed pitcher Nick Howard, who never made it to the majors.

The Reds selected Alex Blandino two picks after the Cards acquired Weaver. Blandino signed a minor league contract with the Reds last November to return as a pitcher.

Neither of the top two picks in the 2014 draft, Brady Aiken and Tyler Kolek, reached the major leagues. First-round picks in that draft included former Middletown High School star Carlos Rodon, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Nola, Kyle Freeland, former Red Jeff Hoffman, Michael Conforto, Trea Turner, former Red Brandon Finnegan, Erick Fedde, Grant Holmes, Matt Chapman, Michael Kopech, Jack Flaherty and Connor Joe.

Weaver was among the players the Cardinals traded to the Diamondbacks for Paul Goldschmidt.

In December 2018, St. Louis sent Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andrew Young and a 2019 B-round pick to Arizona for Goldschmidt.

Weaver impressed in 2019, but led the league with nine losses and posted a 6.58 ERA in 12 starts in 2020.

After posting a 4.25 ERA in 13 starts in 2021, Arizona moved to the bullpen in 2022. He posted a 7.71 ERA in 16 1/3 innings and was traded to Kansas City for Emmanuel Rivera in August 2022.

Weaver made 14 appearances as a backup for Kansas City this season, but Seattle selected him off waivers in October. The Mariners granted him free agency and he signed with the Reds in January 2023.

Weaver replaced Clay Holmes as the Yankees' closer in September.

Weaver converted all four of his save opportunities in September before recording his first-ever postseason save.

Over the last month, Weaver has struck out 27 of the 44 batters he has faced.

The Yankees paid Weaver $2 million this season, with a $2 million option for 2025.

The fact that the Yankees are paying Weaver so little compared to many of the best relief pitchers in the game today makes it even more painful for the four teams (Arizona, Kansas City, Cincinnati and Seattle) that let Weaver get away with it in 2022 and 2023 .

The Royals might be most upset if Weaver helps the Yankees advance to the American League Championship Series.

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On By John Fenwick

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