Entering Game 1 of the ALDS with the Yankees holding a narrow 6-5 lead, Luke Weaver took the mound with two outs and a runner on first in the eighth inning. He quickly struck out Maikel Garcia to end the threat and then dominated the ninth, fanning two more batters, including Royals star Bobby Witt Jr., to secure the win and give the Yankees an early series advantage.
Luke Weaver pitched for the Diamondbacks from 2019 until mid-2022. In 2019, he had a solid start with a 2.94 ERA over 12 games, including three outings where he allowed one run or fewer in at least six innings. However, 2020 was challenging for Weaver; he ended the shortened season with a 1-9 record, the most losses among National League pitchers, and a 6.58 ERA, one of the worst that year.
By 2022, Weaver had shifted to the bullpen and was traded to the Kansas City Royals for infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who was recently designated for assignment by Arizona. Joining the Yankees last season, he has become a standout in a struggling bullpen, posting a 2.89 ERA over 84 innings in 2024, demonstrating his return as a dependable late-inning pitcher.
His four-out save against the Royals in Game 1 was his first-ever postseason appearance, and if he continues to perform like this, the Yankees will likely rely on him again as they aim for a deep October run.