4 Yankees regressions that will cost them 2022 World Series

3. Jonathan Loaisiga

The man who was supposed to take over for a struggling Chapman has disappeared as well. Jonathan Loaisiga, like Chapman, has at times tricked fans into thinking he’s “back” only to come crashing back down harder.

It may not be fair for us to call Loaisiga’s 2022 a regression because it’s more so in line with his production from 2018-2020, but his 2021 provided belief that he was “unlocked.” His stuff always screamed “potential,” and it was finally unleashed when he recorded a 2.17 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 1.02 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 70.2 relief innings last year.

This year? A 5.52 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 1.45 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in 31 innings and some shoulder issues from earlier in the season. Every pair of clean outings from Loaisiga in 2022 is quickly followed by a different kind of unraveling, whether it’s allowing a homer, a string of hits, or walking batters as he struggles with location.

Maybe Johnny Lasagna was never for real. But 2021 was his first full season of action and he delivered in a way that had many forecasting the future. His 2022 showing has the Yankees down another reliever — an elite one, at that.