Zack Britton isn't going to let his struggles impact the New York Yankees' playoff chances any longer.
After yet another dismal ninth-inning outing Thursday, the veteran reliever asked manager Aaron Boone to no longer use him as the team's closer, Britton revealed Saturday.
"That's tough, tough to swallow your pride, a little bit," Britton said, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. "I told (Boone) I know what my track record is, but that doesn't mean anything right now. I'm not where I want to be physically; I don't want to lose games with the team in that spot.
"I feel like other guys have deserved that. (Jonathan Loaisiga) and Chad (Green) have been outstanding. This year, they deserve every chance to close out."
Britton, a staple of the Yankees' bullpen since 2018, has endured a miserable 2021 season. The former AL Reliever of the Year owns a career-worst 6.32 ERA with just one save and has issued as many walks (12) as he has strikeouts. Elbow and hamstring injuries have limited him to just 18 appearances.
His struggles reached their peak Thursday when he blew a save at the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa. Britton undid a four-run Yankees comeback in the top of the ninth by allowing a two-run, walk-off homer to Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. It was his second blown save in four days.
While Boone will now call on others in save situations - he specifically named Green and Loaisiga as candidates to close until Aroldis Chapman returns - he still has faith in Britton being a key part of the bullpen.
"We'll continue to try and get Britt into more situations where we feel like he can be really successful," Boone said. "And I still think he's gonna play a huge role for us as we go down the stretch here, and we gotta get back to that point all the way."
