Yankees’ Devin Williams feels he’s ‘getting closer’ after latest debacle versus Tigers

DETROIT — Devin Williams has his beard back, but he’s still searching for the rest of himself. 

The Yankees closer has not had the smoothest of landings with his new team four outings into the season, including Wednesday, when he needed to be bailed out by Mark Leiter Jr. to avoid blowing a four-run lead in a 4-3 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. 

“I’m still figuring stuff out,” Williams said after giving up three runs on two walks and two hits while recording two outs in the ninth inning. “I haven’t felt like 100 percent myself up to this point, but I would say I’m getting closer, for sure.” 

Asked if that meant something physically, Williams said he was “fine,” but that he just needed game reps and better execution to settle into a groove. 

Williams has not yet had a clean inning in any of his four appearances, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out five across three innings.

He played with fire in an Opening Day save against the Brewers, gave up the game-winning hit in the 11th inning against the Pirates on Sunday and then almost blew Wednesday’s win.