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 because they have lost their job.
POTENTIAL MLB TRADE PIECES: Alex Colome, Shane Greene, Will Smith, Sergio Romo
ATHLETICS: Blake Treinen is 15-for-17 in saves, but the K/9 rate is down two per nine, and the walk rate has doubled from last season (9.17 and 4.98). His 0.79 HR/9 rate is also a career worst, as is his 1.46 WHIP and 1.19 GB/FB ratio that isn’t even half of his career mark of 2.67.
BLUE JAYS: Ken Giles is on the IL with elbow inflammation. Reports suggest that he doesn’t expect that he will need more than 10 days to recover as the Jays hope they caught this situation early enough that it won’t be a long-term concern. Daniel Hudson picked up the first save chance Wednesday (he converted), but most expect Joe Biagini to be the primary closer while Giles is down. There’s also the fact that the manager said it would be Biagini (see the link).
BREWERS: Josh Hader is up to 16 saves and 17.64 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s still not ceding any save chances which is kind of unexpected, especially since Jeremy Jeffress is back and healthy (Jeffress doesn’t have a single save in 21 games).
CARDINALS: Jordan Hicks has allowed one run his last five outings. Moreover, he’s permitted just a single run and two hits over 5.1 innings as he’s seemingly found his game again. The backup role, if indeed Hicks is removed from the role at some point, is un in the air. Note that John Gant has five wins and three saves with a 0.74 WHIP and a 3.89 K/BB ratio. He’s currently the owner of a .179 BABIP and 87 percent left on base rate, there’s some regression coming.
DIAMONDBACKS: Greg Holland has 10 saves in 11 chances with a 1.99 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 11.51 strikeouts per nine.
GIANTS: The Giants are still expected to deal Will Smith (2.03 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 12.83 K/9 and 16 saves). The replacement when that happens is unclear. Sam Dyson has had some success in the role in the past. Reyes Moronta has 13 Ks per nine this season. Mark Melancon has performed decently in ‘19. Tony Watson is a lefty, but he continues to get outs (2.70 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 7.33 K/BB).
MARINERS: So, Hunter Strickland, to the surprise of no one, had a setback in his recovery from his lat issue. He had some soreness recently which put his throwing program on hold. It doesn’t sound like it’s a major setback, but who can tell anymore with Strickland. Roenis Elias picked up a save Wednesday, his first since May 14th. He’s not very good. Anthony Bass has a 3.38 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in his 10.2 innings, and is actually in the mix for 9th inning work despite four career saves over eight plus seasons. Brandon Brennan has more than a punchout per inning, and a 54 percent ground ball rate. He’s also allowed 10 runs his last 6.2 innings.
NATIONALS: The bullpen continues to be a disaster. Sean Doolittle has an 11.39 K/9 rate and a 5.0 K/BB ratio. Still, he has a 1.34 WHIP and over his last 6.2 innings he’s allowed 11 hits and seven runs.
ORIOLES: Mychal Givens has a save in 2-of-3 games. He’s unscored upon his last four outings and has allowed one run in six. He’s pitching much better with one walk in five outings, and he’s given up nary a hit his last four outings. His last six outings Shawn Armstrong has allowed three walks and three hits with eight strikeouts (one unearned run). Miguel Castro has allowed three runs his last two outings and Richard Bleier has just 4.15 strikeouts per nine with a 1.44 WHIP.
RANGERS: Shawn Kelley is still leading the group for 9th inning work, and leads the team with seven saves. Over his last six outings, Kelley has allowed two runs pitching per normal for him, which just isn’t dominating (7.61 K/9, 1.90 BB/9). Jose Leclerc looked just about ready to take back the ninth… until danger struck. Over his last three outings he’s been awful allowing a run each time leading to four runs over three innings. He just cannot seem to get over the hump.
RED SOX: This situation continues to be… muddled. Ryan Brasier leads the team with six saves, followed by Matt Barnes (4), Brandon Workman (2), Marcus Walden (1) and Heath Hembree (1). Brasier doesn’t have a save since April 21st. Barnes’ last five outings: four hits, six walks and six runs. Workman is pitching the best out of the group. He has allowed just one run in eight outings as he’s allowed two hits, two walks and one run (unearned). Walden has allowed five hits, including three homers, with five runs his last three outings.
TWINS: Taylor Rogers (back) doesn’t think that he will need a stay on the sidelines, but he was unavailable earlier in the week. Rogers has allowed four runs his last five outings to push his ERA to 2.25. The 6.17 K/BB ratio and 1.52 GB/FB speak to the success he’s had overall this season. His six saves are three less than Blake Parker. The righty, Parker, is 9-for-10 in save conversions. Same time, he’s been really, really bad of late. The last four outings are Ugly town: four homers allowed, eight runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings. This one is getting messy, though we’re used to the uncertainty with this bullpen.
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