Bullpens loom large for postseason
Dodgers could convert starters during playoffs
Around this time last year, the Cleveland Indians were providing a preview of the American League postseason.
Manager Terry Francona was using newly acquired reliever Andrew Miller in all sorts of situations, and for more than one inning if necessary. It was an approach that eventually helped the Indians win the American League pennant, with Miller the MVP of the AL Championship Series.
The Indians are only the latest team to show how important a good bullpen can be in the playoffs, but not everybody has a tireless star like Miller. Here’s a look at four other teams that are almost certain to be in the postseason this year — and how they might use their relievers.
Dodgers: Kenley Jansen might be the best reliever in all of baseball, and he threw 51 pitches in the Division Series finale last year at Washington, so manager Dave Roberts knows he can handle an extended outing. What’s interesting this year is that Los Angeles appears to have a surplus of starters, so Roberts could convert at least one of them (Rich Hill? Kenta Maeda?) into a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
Astros: Houston may be the team that most resembles the 2016 Indians. The Astros will lean on ace starter Dallas Keuchel, but there’s a drop-off after him in the rotation, which means the Houston bullpen should be crucial. Rio Grande grad Ken Giles is the closer, but Chris Devenski is the X-factor. He went four innings in each of his first two appearances back in April, and he’s gone at least two innings in 12 of his 49 relief outings in 2017.
Nationals: Washington’s bullpen has been a mess this year, but that hasn’t prevented the Nationals from taking a big lead in the NL East. The Nats added Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler in recent weeks to try to fix their biggest weakness, and so far those three have combined for a 1.32 ERA for Washington. Doolittle has converted all 11 of his save chances for his new team. If that keeps up, the late innings in October may be less stressful than expected.
Red Sox: Closer Craig Kimbrel has 99 strikeouts and only eight walks on the year, and Boston acquired Addison Reed at the deadline to bolster the bullpen. Those two are certainly capable of shutting teams down, but it’s not clear how much manager John Farrell will push them. Kimbrel has thrown 1⅓ innings or less in all but two of his appearances this year.
Monday
INDIANS 5, RED SOX 4: In Cleveland, Brandon Guyer scored when first baseman Brock Holt threw away Roberto Perez’s bunt in the ninth inning, lifting Cleveland over Boston in a matchup of first-place teams.
After Guyer’s leadoff double against
Brandon Workman (0-1), Holt fielded the bunted ball and tried to throw out Guyer at third. Guyer slid into the bag as the throw skipped past third baseman Rafael Devers, then got to his feet and raced across home plate. Teammates ran onto the field and doused Perez with water and white powder. DODGERS 6, PIRATES 5, 12 INNINGS: In Pittsburgh, Yasiel Puig homered in the 12th inning, helping Los Angeles top Pittsburgh.
Puig drove a 1-0 pitch from rookie Dovydas Neverauskas (1-1) over the wall in center for his 22nd of the season. The Pirates put runners on first and second with two out in the bottom half, but Ross Stripling retired Max Moroff on a liner to right for his second save. DIAMONDBACKS 3, METS 2, 10 INNINGS: In New York, A.J. Pollock hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and Arizona snapped a three-game skid.
J.D. Martinez had an RBI single and left fielder David Peralta threw out the potential go-ahead run at the plate for the Diamondbacks. GIANTS 2, BREWERS 0: In San Francisco, rookie Chris Stratton pitched six innings to run his scoreless streak to 12 ⅔ innings his past two outings, and San Francisco stymied Milwaukee. MARINERS 6, BRAVES 5: In Atlanta, Andrew Albers worked into the sixth inning for his second straight win since coming up from the minors, leading Seattle over Atlanta.
ORIOLES 7, ATHLETICS 3: In Baltimore, Adam Jones hit a pair of home runs, Jonathan Schoop added a threerun shot and Baltimore beat Oakland.
WHITE SOX 7-2, TWINS 6-10: In Chicago, Jorge Polanco hit his second threerun homer of the day as Minnesota scored six times in the second inning and routed Chicago to split a doubleheader Monday night.
Brian Dozier added a three-run drive off Carson Fulmer during the rally, and Minnesota bounced back from a 7-6 loss in the opener.