It has been a disastrous three weeks for Dellin Betances, who entered Friday’s game having surrendered 13 runs in his previous six innings.
His late-season struggles no doubt will fuel offseason talk about the Yankees bringing Aroldis Chapman back to close, with Betances shifting back to the eighth-inning role.
“No matter how I did, the Chapman stuff was gonna be there — even if I didn’t have a couple weeks like I did,” Betances said before the Yankees’ 8-1 loss to the Orioles on Friday night at the Stadium. “I can see why there’s more talk now.”
Asked if he would be bothered by giving up the closer’s role next season if the Yankees do dip into free agency, Betances said: “If it’s gonna help us win a championship, why not? Whatever it takes to win.”
But despite his recent ineffectiveness — when his command and defense have come into question — Betances remains confident he can succeed in the ninth.
“I’ve enjoyed every part of it,” Betances said. “Obviously, I haven’t enjoyed the past couple weeks much. But it’s a learning process. It’s been an up and down year, for sure.
It gives me some things I can work on to be stronger.”
Manager Joe Girardi said he doesn’t believe Betances has anything to prove before the end of the season.
“I’m gonna take his body of work,” the manager said.
And Betances said he will be watching to see what the front office does heading into 2017 — and not just because of Chapman.
“I pay attention to every move we make,” Betances said. “I don’t want to be in this situation where we’re eliminated.”
Luis Severino will make the start Saturday against the Orioles in place of Masahiro Tanaka.
Tanaka has been dealing with a strained flexor mass in his right elbow, which forced the Yankees to skip his spot in the rotation the last time.
He is one out from getting to 200 innings for the first time in the majors.
Jorge Mateo played center field for the Yankees in an instructional league game Friday. The Yankees want him — and other prospects — to be able to play different positions and general manager Brian Cashman said Mateo would continue to see time at center, short, second and designated hitter.
James Kaprielian, coming back from arm issues that sidelined him for most of the season, pitched two innings against the Blue Jays’ instructional league team, giving up an unearned run, while striking out four and walking two.
— Additional reporting by Kevin Kernan in Tampa