Cruz was part of a rough NYY bullpen effort, allowing nine runs on four hits and four walks without recording an out. His outburst contributed to Detroit’s substantial early lead and frames a caution flag for Yankees’ late-inning relief reliance in the rematch.

Cruz entered in a pivotal moment and failed to retire a batter, throwing 13 of 20 pitches for balls and contributing to a nine-run inning. The hiccup inflated his ERA and underscored the volatility of NYY’s late-inning relief in a high-leverage game.

Cruz’s seventh-inning strikeout of Altuve to preserve a one-run lead underscored the bullpen’s late-clinching option and provided a momentum boost for New York.

Cruz’s return promises bullpen stability; his splitter elicits strikeouts and could anchor late-inning work as the Yankees seek reliability after a July slide. Fantasy managers should monitor his usage, save chances, and how often he’s trusted in high-leverage roles upon activation.

Fernando Cruz is earmarked for another rehab outing with the Yankees, part of a plan to rebuild volume and bullpen flexibility after a season marred by injuries. His 3.00 ERA across 32 appearances underscores his usefulness, and the team wants him to be ready for any role when needed.