Andrew Miller Struggles as Yankees New Set-Up Man

The 2015 Mariano Rivera Award Winner (American League Reliever of the Year) Andrew Miller is undoubtedly one of the better closers in baseball.

However, he no longer holds the title of closer.

Thanks to Aroldis Chapman and his 102 mph fastball coming off his suspension for violating Major League Baseballs Domestic Violence Policy, Andrew Miller has been demoted (if you will) to the eight inning and will serve as the set-up man to Chapman – something Miller hasn’t done in two plus seasons.

And early on it looks as if Andrew Miller is starting to struggled in his new role.

Prior to Tuesday nights ballgame against the Kansas City Royals, Andrew Miller had yet to cough up an earned run this season in a nearly perfect 11.2 innings as the Yankees closer.

Related Story: Yankees Defeat Royals 10-7

But ever since the Yankees new toy Aroldis Chapman arrived in town, things have gone slightly down hill for Miller.

In his 2015 eighth inning debut, the southpaw coughed up a home run to the very first batter he faced, plunked the next batter in line and served up another base hit right after.

But let’s call a spade a spade. Miller gave up the home run to Lorenzo Cain, who snapped out his slump in a big way with three home runs in last nights ballgame and was so locked in that he probably would have smoked a home run off Cy Young himself. Also, Miller rebounded quite well, getting three Royals hitters to strike out and end the inning.

Hopefully this is just Andrew Miller shaking off the rust and getting back into the rhythm of pitching in the eighth inning. Sure we should expect a slight transition and a few struggles early on, but the Yankees can ill afford to see their bullpen falter.

What do you think Yankees fans? Can Miller shake off the rust or will the Yankees dynamic duo struggle to find consistency?

Let us know in the comments below.