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
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, Ken Giles, Shane Greene, Will Smith, Sergio Romo
ASTROS: Roberto Osuna has just one saves in six outings. He’s only walked one batter in nine outings, and he has five strikeouts over his last eight outs.
BLUE JAYS: Ken Giles is back on the field. He has allowed a run in two outings since returning, but he’s also picked up a save and has generated five outs, out of six, via the strikeout.
BRAVES: A.J. Minter picked up a 4-out save Wednesday, his first since April 24th. Still, he appears to be third in line in the Braves pen at the moment. Luke Jackson is the closer, but he had worked 3-of-4 days and needed a break. He’s been wobbly in June allowed seven runs (four earned) over 12 innings. He’s also allowed two homers, despite his oft dominating work (18 strikeouts). Anthony Swarzak is likely second in line ahead of Minter, as he’s been pretty darn amazing since joining the Braves (0.54 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 10.80 K/9 and a mere 0.54 HR/9 rate over 16.2 frames).
CARDINALS: Jordan Hicks is done for the season after TJ surgery. That leaves three men as the main options for the ninth inning – Andrew Miller, John Gant and Carlos Martinez. Miller has just five saves the last 2.5 seasons, and the lefty is likely to be a spot closing option. That leaves Gant and Martinez as the primary options. According to the team, Martinez is the closer. Why not Gant? A couple thoughts. The game is often time decided well before the 9th inning which means using your best reliever in the 7th or 8th inning might have a bigger impact on the outcome (it’s not that hard to get three outs with a three-run lead is it?). Gant has been a terrific with a 0.85 WHIP this season, and he’s settled into his role quite well. Some relievers have no issue coming into a game mid inning, while others like to start things clean (Martinez, a former starter, probably prefers this route). Teams like their ninth inning guy to strike batters out. Martinez has struggled a bit in this respect, but his K/9 rate is still more than half a batter higher than Gant’s. Martinez is the guy for now. Just a note. Saves aren’t coming, but Giovanny Gallegos has been tremendous in a setup role with a 12.75 K/9 rate and 1.50 BB/9 mark over 31 outings.
CUBS: Craig Kimbrel will be in the majors Thursday. He has at least 31 saves each of the last eight seasons, or every time he’s thrown 30-innings in a season. He should take over ninth inning duties with the Cubs in short order. At least that’s the expectation.
MARINERS: Roenis Elias has actually found a groove. Over his last seven outings he hasn’t allowed a run and, get this, zero hits. For real. He also has a save in 5-of-6 outings in a remarkable run of efficiency. Hunter Strickland is back to throwing, and ideally for the Mariners he will return, look sharp, get a couple of saves, and then be shipped out of town for a nice return. He could be a 9th inning threat when healthy.
ORIOLES: Mychal Givens is the only Oriole with more than two saves. He continues to be a near disaster to own though as he doesn’t get consistent work in the 9th, and he also has a tendency to get blown up. Over his last four outings he has no saves, a loss, and has allowed five runs, three earned, in four innings. Even if we don’t go with Givens as the best 9th innings play, there’s simply no clear-cut pivot. What a mess.
RANGERS: Shawn Kelley has allowed two runs his last three outings, but he’s also picked up a save in 4-of-6 outings. Chris Martin has worked 4-straight scoreless outings and he’s walked a total of three batters over 30 innings this season. He’s pitching extremely well in his setup role. Jose LeClerc has five Ks his last 3.1 innings, and he’s allowed just a run over his last six outings. He continues to wobble just enough to never quite get back into the good graces of the team.
RAYS: Jose Alvarado threw two bullpen sessions Monday and Tuesday. The expectation is that he is pretty close to returning from dealing with a family situation. He last appeared on June 1st, so there could be some rust. Diego Castillo has a right shoulder impingement so it seems like he will be on the shelf for two weeks. Emilio Pagan has worked 6-straight scoreless outing to drop his ERA to 1.21. He’s also allowed just two homers and eight walks over 29.2 innings helping him to an impressive 0.84 WHIP. He’s the current lead dog in the 9th.
REDS: Raisel Iglesias is still the closer. Let’s get that out of the way. He did bomb last time out (four runs in an inning), but he is still the guy. Walks can be an issue at times, that 4.13 BB/9 rate is way too high, and he’s also been intermittently bitten by the home run ball (1.38 per nine) though he’s only allowed one homer in since May 6th. Clearly, he’s not used as traditionally as we would like, just working the ninth inning for three outs, but he’s still the arm to own in this pen.
RED SOX: This situation continues to be… muddled. Matt Barnes picked up his sixth blown save Wednesday. He has a massive 15.99 K/9 rate, but he’s actually just 4-for-10 in save conversions this season. Hard to think he keeps getting 9th inning work. Brandon Workman appears to be in the lead at the moment, though that’s a tenuous lead at best with the specter of changes (including a potential trade). Workman had a save the last time out, and his work the last 15 outings has been really impressive: 1 ER, 20 Ks, 4 wins, 2 saves, 3 holds in 14.2 innings. Ryan Brasier has one save since April 21st. Over his last nine outings he’s walked two, struck out nine, allowed one run, picked up a save and three holds.
ROCKIES: Wade Davis has been shaky. Maybe, just maybe, things are improving? Over his last three outings he has two saves and he hasn’t allowed a run. He’s still walked two, and struck out just one, but baby steps and saves in 3-of-4 outings.
ROYALS: Ian Kennedy has emerged as the closer. He’s up to 10 saves and has earned a save in 7-of-8 and 8-of-10 outings. He’s allowed one run in that time.
TWINS: Taylor Rogers has surged to the 9th inning lead for the Twins and he picked up his 10th save Wednesday night, a 4-out affair. However, rumors suggest the Twins are in the pitching market, and that they have decided to focus on the bullpen with a name like Will Smith being mentioned. They could easily add a reliever, so it’s unclear if Rogers will remain the main cog in the pen or not long-term.
