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: The best pitcher in the bullpen is Ty Buttrey. He’s also being use in the dominator role, pitching when the game is on the line in the late innings. That’s left the 9th inning for Hansel Robles. The 28 year old righty has two saves in three outings, though his current 67.9 percent left on base rate is well below league average and pretty darn awful for a 9th inning option. Cody Allen has returned and is lurking. He has three straight scoreless outings, but he’s walked a guy each time out suggesting he’s not close to re-entering the 9th inning mix.
BRAVES: A.J. Minter hasn’t been right all year, and now he’s searching for it in the minors. The clear option at the moment is Luke Jackson. The 27 year old righty has a save in 3-straight outings. Moreover, with the bullpen searching for any type of consistency, Jackson has been called on to complete two innings in each of his last two outings. Further, Jackson has seven strikeouts and no walks his last five innings, and he’s allowed one run since April 1st.
CUBS: Pedro Strop has a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The team was supposed to go committee in the 9th inning in his absence, and honestly they still could, but Steve Cishek has emerged as the leader of that group for 9th inning work. Over his last nine outings Cishek has 10 Ks in 10 scoreless innings as he’s allowed a mere four hits and four walks. He has a save in his last two outings as he continues to be a solid bullpen arm. He’s just being called on in the 9th inning now.
MARINERS: Roenis Elias has walked three batters his last two outings. Over those four innings he also has seven strikeouts and has picked up a save. Look, he’s not great. He’s shouldn’t be working the 9th inning on any type of consistent basis. That doesn’t seem to matter at this point cause he is getting the work. Elias has allowed three runs his last four outings, and those 10.6 swinging strike rate and 60.4 percent first pitch strike rate certainly don’t suggest any kind of dominance is forthcoming. Brandon Brennan is actually the best performer to date in the bullpen (two wins, five holds, 2.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP). Still, he hasn’t been given one save chance. Anthony Swarzak in May – been a mess (5 ER, 3 BB, 2 HRs in 3.1 IP). Hunter Strickland (lat) is set to start throwing Monday. He could return to take over the 9th inning in late May.
MARLINS: Drew Steckenrider will not need surgery on his elbow. He’s still been placed on the IL, and now the 60-day list is where he resides. He’s out until at least early July. This is currently Sergio Romo’s job. Still, Romo is listing with a massive 6.23 BB/9 ratio, including four last time out, and he’s allowed three runs his last four outings. Adam Conley has worked scoreless outing in 5-of-6 efforts, with just one walk in that time.
NATIONALS: Sean Doolittle continues to do his thing with three wins, six saves, a 0.95 ERA and a 10.42 K/9 mark. Just not getting a lot of save chances is he.
ORIOLES: Mychal Givens leads the team with four saves. They have come in his last six outings. He has worked 5-scoreless in a row to lower his ERA to 2.89 (FIP of 3.21). The K-rate is up to 11.57 per nine as well.
RANGERS: Chris Martin is the closer for now, though Jose Leclerc is still looming. Martin isn’t overly skilled, though that 6.00 K/BB ratio is nice right now. Still, the guy is 32 years old and has all of two big leagues saves. He also owns a 4.87 ERA and 1.38 WHIP for his career. How much staying power does he have? Leclerc has allowed one run his last five innings with eight punchouts and one hit allowed. He’s close, but the four walks still cause some pause. Still, he’s looked sharp in 3-of-4 outings. Leclerc shouldn’t be on waivers, though he will oddly be used as the Opener Friday.
RAYS: Emilio Pagan (three saves), Jose Alvarado (four) and Diego Castillo (five) are clearly splitting ninth inning work. Castillo has eight holds, Alvarado four and Pagan one. Games finished: Alvarado (nine), Castillo (seven), Pagan (four). By the way, Casey Sadler and Chaz Roe have also finished four games. This team has a plan, I think, and it seems like Castillo is the arm to own… for now. Over his last eight outings, Castillo has 14 Ks, two BBs and no runs allowed over 9.2 innings.
RED SOX: Ryan Brasier has six saves and two holds. Matt Barnes has three saves and five holds. Brasier has 17.2 innings. Barnes 18.0. Brasier has an 8.15 K/9 and a 17.00 K/9. Barnes has been the more dominant arm. Period. Barnes also hasn’t allowed a run in eight outings.
ROYALS: Ian Kennedy has two saves, one more than Wily Peralta and Brad Boxberger and Scott Barlow. The best pitcher the last two weeks is Barlow with his 15.75 K/9 and 1.13 BB/9 ratios. Kennedy only pitched 2.2 inning. Peralta threw five innings with a 1.80 HR/9 rate and 0.67 K/BB ratio. Boxberger has one strikeout and two walks in his four innings. This bullpen stinks.
TWINS: Blake Parker leads the team with seven saves, but Taylor Rogers has four and he continues to get 9th inning work. Rogers has thrown three more innings, in the same amount of appearances, though it’s not like Parker has done anything wrong since he’s allowed one runs since April 1st. They are just mixing and matching. Oh joy.
