The 2019 season is underway and, predictably, it’s a disaster. Some teams seem to have no plan at all. Other teams are continually searching for answers to get the last out, either because of poor performance or injury. Very few are the situations that have nary an issue. Each week we will try to get a handle on who the closer is, who is next in line and who is bringing up the rear as the third option in the pen. We will do our best, though it’s likely that the teams will not comply fully as we hope.
THE 2019 CHART
GREEN – There is a closer who has the role on lockdown.
WHITE – There is clarity as to who the closer is, but there is some uncertainty about his ability to hold on to the role.
RED – There is no clarity as to who the closer is, or what the true plan is for the 9th inning.
This is NOT a rankings list. It merely lists all 30 team situations in one of three categories (the teams are not listed in a ranking order even on the tier – they are just listed by tiers).
Before you panic with your closer, make sure you check the recent usage. Many times, guys go 2-days in a row and then get a rest, which is why they aren’t getting a save chance in game #3, not cause they have lost their job.
Craig Kimbrel remains a free agent.
ANGELS: Cody Allen was demoted, and then placed on the DL. Ty Buttrey was/is my expectation to fill the role, but Hansel Robles is clearly in the mix. Robles has two saves, but Buttrey got the save Wednesday night, and he’s pitched wonderfully (11.81 K/9, 1.69 BB/9). Still, Buttrey has been used for multiple innings a couple of times of late, so it appears that Robles will still get chances in the ninth inning as the Angels seem content to use their “best” reliever (Buttrey) whenever the game situation calls for it.
BRAVES: A.J. Minter’s the guy at the moment, barely, as he continues to struggle along. He has allowed four runs his last six outings, surprisingly with five scoreless outings in the mix as it was just that one catastrophic effort where the run damage occurred. Still, a 5.59 BB/9 rate is hideous, and his swinging strike rate, 14.9 percent last season, is sitting at 10.7 percent (below the league average). Luke Jackson is the new name to know in this bullpen, and hopefully you added him last week if you’re a Minter owner. Jackson has 17 Ks in 14 innings while allowing just a walk – and he’s right-handed.
BREWERS: Josh Hader has struggled a bit of late, especially with the long ball as he’s allowed four in his last five outs. Batters have hit just .190 against him in those five outings, but they have a massive .762 SLG. He also holds a not possible K/9 rate of 19.02 on the year. Meanwhile, Jeremy Jeffress has allowed a run in each of his last two outings, and he’s walked four batters in 4.2 innings with a fastball velocity that is more than three mph off his career number.
CUBS: Brandon Morrow has been moved to the 60-day IL with a setback to his elbow. He’s hopeful of returning in the second half, but last threw a big-league pitch in July of last season. Steve Cishek has a save in his 13 appearances, but Pedro Strop has three saves, has walked just two batters and allowed one homer in his 9.2 innings.
MARINERS: Anthony Swarzak and Roenis Elias are in a Battle Royale for the 9th inning gig. Roenis leads the team with four saves while Swarzak has three. Elias has a 7.56 K/9 and a 29 percent ground ball rate. Swarzak has marks of 10.61 and 44.0. Elias has a 61 percent left on base mark. Swarzak has a 94 percent mark. Elias is left-handed, Swarzak right. I’m still barely in favor of Team Swarzak.
PHILLIES: Hector Neris continues to roll and David Robertson (elbow) still hasn’t been cleared to throw since being sidelined with a Grade 1 flexor strain. This is starting to really look like Neris’ gig as he’s bene unscored upon in 13-of-14 outings while walking three batters all season long.
RANGERS: Jose Leclerc has been removed from ninth inning duties for the moment. Last season he ran of 12 save chances after Keone Kela was dealt. Leclerc has five saves, but he has two blown saves and was removed in two other games in the ninth inning. “With a young guy, you don’t want to kill the kid’s confidence,” manager Chris Woodward said. “He’s going to work out of it at some point. I would love to keep giving him the ball, but I do have to be mindful of his mental state.” Leclerc just isn’t getting batters to chase his pitches, his swinging strike rate of 8.2 percent is less than half what it was last season, and his percentage of swings on pitches outside the strike zone, 33.8 percent last season, is down at 25.9 percent this season. Shawn Kelley figures to get first shot at the ninth inning after 12-straight walk less outings, but he’s also 35 years old and has a total of 16 saves in his 455-game career. Keep Leclerc rostered as a couple of good outings could find him back in the 9th.
RAYS: Emilio Pagan (three saves), Jose Alvarado (four) and Diego Castillo (three) are clearly splitting ninth inning work. Castillo has seven holds, Alvarado four and Pagan one. Alvarado leads the team with seven games finished while Castillo has five and Pagan four. Note that Castillo (15 games) and Alvarado (14) have as seen the field twice as much as Pagan (seven outings). What a mess.
REDS: Raisel Iglesias has a 4.30 BB/9 rate which needs to correct itself, but he has walked just two batters his last seven outings, and in that time, he’s punched out a rather remarkable 15 batters in eight innings.
RED SOX: Ryan Brasier has a win and six saves for the Sox while the more dominant hurler is Matt Barnes with his two victories, four holds and massive 23 punchouts in 12 innings.
ROYALS: Seemingly they have no discernable plan. Ian Kennedy has two saves, one more than Wily Peralta and Brad Boxberger. Kennedy is second on the team with six games finished, one less than Peralta and the same total as Boxberger. To show who has been the most effective, let’s simply look at the K/BB column: Kennedy 10.50, Boxberger 1.88 and Peralta 0.88.
TWINS: Blake Parker is the closer. After missing time with an illness he’s back at it and leads the team with six saves, three more than Taylor Rogers. Parker has just one run allowed in his 11outings, he’s also walked five in 9.1 innings, and that’s something to keep an eye on. Rogers has pitches impressively with 20 punchouts in 13.2 innings, but he’s also walked four, allowed a homer and is rocking a poor 1.46 WHIP while being left-handed.
