NEW YORK – Before we discuss the Yankees’ nail-biting 6-5 victory in the playoffs against the Kansas City Royals—who made some critical errors—let’s introduce Luke Weaver, the unexpected hero of October that everyone needed.

Just a year ago, Weaver had a rough season with a 6.87 ERA as a starter for the Cincinnati Reds.

A month ago, he had transitioned into a valuable setup pitcher and was on the verge of becoming the team’s closer—an uneasy position for a team aiming to win now and secure the AL East title.

However, any plans for a bullpen by committee were shelved as Weaver single-handedly took charge at the end of this game, successfully closing out Game 1 of the best-of-five AL Division Series.

After a decade in the major leagues, Weaver was asked if he was ready for such a challenge.

“Well, I’m not built for it in size,’’ he remarked, having a light-hearted attitude typical of a well-balanced pitcher. “But I believe my wiry build gives me a strong inner strength.”

Yankees Struggle But Win Thanks to Royals’ Mistakes

Weaver’s smooth four-out save featured three strikeouts, including one against Bobby Witt Jr., who inexplicably ended the game 0-for-5 at Yankee Stadium, amid cheering from 48,790 fans who likely felt a bit queasy.

The Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole struggled, and Aaron Judge (0-for-4, with 3 strikeouts) was absent offensively. Conversely, Royals manager Matt Quatraro must have regretted pulling Michael Wacha in the fifth inning.

On the Yankees’ side, manager Aaron Boone made great decisions by placing Oswaldo Cabrera at first and Alex Verdugo in left field, with Verdugo hitting the crucial go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning.

“I get it; I was booing myself too,” said Verdugo (2-for-3, walk), who had a challenging season and saw rookie Jasson Dominguez enter conversations about left field.

Luke Weaver Steps Up Like Mariano Rivera

Jazz Chisholm Jr., who often travels with Weaver on team flights, noted that Weaver was “made for this moment” as he entered the eighth inning with a runner on first.

Just weeks after earning his first big-league save, a moment he described as a blur, Weaver, now 31, took care of the top of the Royals lineup in the ninth.

Weaver struck out Michael Massey with a changeup, got Witt Jr. on a full-count 96-mph fastball, and forced Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out with another changeup.

“This is his time, this is what he’s born to do,” said Chisholm Jr., who has seen Weaver’s confident attitude on the field and off.

The competitive spirit carries over even into their in-flight card games, and Weaver admitted, “I show my emotions when I lose,” but he valued Chisholm Jr.’s kind words.

“Jazz said some really nice things,” Weaver remarked. “I hope he tells me these things in person, our friendship would definitely grow.”

A Close Victory for the Yankees

Cole acknowledged that the Royals played very well against him, stating, “I made several mistakes, which I need to improve upon.”

He added, “They connected on a few solid pitches too,” referencing MJ Melendez’s two-run homer in the fourth inning.

Kansas City still has the chance to escape the Bronx with a split as Cole Ragans faces Carlos Rodon on Monday.

After a night off on the AL playoff schedule, the team could have been frustrated for not taking advantage against an off-form Cole. They might also question the judgment of third base coach Vance Wilson, who sent Salvador Perez home, leading to an out at the plate in the second inning.

Gleyber Torres made a significant impact with a two-run home run and two walks, while Juan Soto contributed with a 3-for-5 performance, including a crucial throw to get Perez out from right field. Austin Wells, who has struggled with a .111 batting average in September, helped turn things around with a game-tying RBI single in the sixth with two outs.

In the seventh inning, there was a close call involving Chisholm Jr. trying to steal second base. Fortunately for the Yankees, they prevailed after the replay challenge, and Verdugo stepped up to deliver the game-winning hit.

Weaver’s first-ever save is already commemorated with the ball placed in a box noting the date and score.

“It means a lot to me,” Weaver expressed. “It’s everything you dream of, it’s certainly all the clichés combined into one.”