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, Shane Greene, Will Smith, Sergio Romo
ANGELS: Hansel Robles is 11-for-13 converting saves and he has 40 strikeouts, and a mere 1.82 BB/9 rate over 39.2 frames. That walk rate is pretty shocking given that Robles has had a mark over four per nine each of the past three seasons. He’s allowed one run since June 1st.
ATHLETICS: Blake Treinen was bad, and then hit the IL. He returned, and looked awful in his first outing walking two, allowing a run, and getting one out. His immedate return to the 9th inning is in question.
*Late word suggests that Hendricks might be the top option right now.
BRAVES: Luke Jackson has a save in 3-of-4 outings, and he’s allowed just one run his last six times out there as he’s finally seemed to settle into the role. A.J. Minter, on the other hand, just cannot seem to find his footing at all. In his last outing he didn’t record an out but he did allowed two runs. That’s three runs allowed over his last 4.1 innings. Luckily, the Braves expect the suddenly surging Anthony Swarzak to return right after the ASB.
CARDINALS: Carlos Martinez has worked 3-straight scoreless efforts with six punchouts over 4.2 innings. He’s still looking for his first save since being named “the closer.” His velocity is up two mph from last season, he’s actually 0.3 mph ahead of his career fastball and slider pace so his wing seems healthy, and he’s not afraid to let er’ rip in the short outings he’s being asked to work.
DIAMONDBACKS: Greg Holland is spiraling out of control at the moment, with his manager is professing faith in him, though that was before the July 3rd hiccup when he sounded much less secure about his “closer.” Over his last two outings he’s generated a mere three outs while allowing three runs. However, it’s worse. He walked four men on July 2nd and he tossed a while pitch on July 3rd. Further, he’s actually allowed a run in 3-straight outings, and we’ve seen this before, when he simply loses the strike zone for extended periods of time. Archie Bradley is out of the mix, so it’s down to Yoan Lopez and Yoshihisa Hirano. Lopez has been the club’s best reliever this season rocking a 1.36 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, but Hirano is the one with the punchouts (9.84 per nine), the experience, and over his last six outings he has allowed only one unearned run, though he continues to issue the free pass (four in 5.2 innings). It’s very unclear who the pivot will be when they relieve Holland.
MARLINS: You have to think that Serio Romo is dealt before the trade deadline, and it seems unlikely that he will go somewhere to close. His 1.92 K/BB ratio is awful, but he is 15-for-16 in saves conversions as he continues to get the job done.
METS: Though he hasn’t thrown more than an inning in any of his last five outings, Edwin Diaz still has two punchouts in 4-of-5 games. After that meltdown against the Phillies, he’s worked two innings allowing one hit, no walks and producing four punchouts.
NATIONALS: Sean Doolittle has 19 saves, 11.00 K/9 and a 1.36 WHIP. He’s up to 36 innings after averaging 45 frames per season the last three years. Sounds like Fernando Rodney has taken over as the setup man.
RED SOX: The plan is apparently to go with Nathan Eovaldi when he’s healthy, and they think that will be shortly after the ASB. For more, read this report.
RAYS: Jose Alvarado missed a good deal of time tending to family matters. He’s been miserably deficient since his return. Over the three outings he’s allowed seven runs, six earned, while generating eight outs as his ERA has exploded to 4.85 and his WHIP to 1.58. Sounds like Diego Castillo (shoulder) should be back Friday. Castillo has seven saves and 11 holds, but he’s also lost six games. Meanwhile, over his last nine games, Emilio Pagan has not allowed a run, but he has walked four men. He’s also struck out 10 and allowed just three hits in that timeframe.
ROCKIES: Scott Oberg continues to wait in the wings. He’s got five victories, three saves and seven holds along with more than a strikeout per inning with a 1.90 ERA. Wade Davis has worked two scoreless outings in a row without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out three. He’s still the closer, and he’s actually worked a scoreless effort in 5-of-6 outings.
TWINS: Taylor Rogers has started to emerge as the closer here as Blake Parker has receded a bit. Parker has but one save in his last nine outings despite allowing just two runs in that time. Meanwhile, Rogers has three saves in five outings and seven in 10 efforts. Rogers has walked one batter in 12 outings as he’s struck out 18 over 15.1 frames.
