Texas Rangers: How to put the bullpen terrors to rest

The bullpen has spelled disaster for the Texas Rangers. A team that has already been pushed back by key offensive injuries cannot endure blown leads in the late innings. Adjustments need to be made in the Rangers’ pen.

The Texas Rangers are not a team that can afford to blow leads in the late innings, at least not in their current state. As you’d assume, this topic was motivated by the game-tying 9th inning grand slam let up by Keone Kela in last night’s game.

An occasional bullpen collapse happens with every team. Major League hitters are talented, and they’re generally happy when a reliever replaces a starter. However, major league relievers are also talented. Pitchers are more often successful than hitters; therefore, a relief crew should be able to keep an opponent from scoring the vast majority of the time.

The Rangers bullpen has not gotten that memo. It seems like every night we’re watching at least one reliever struggle with his command and forfeit multiple runs. Of course, the struggles always occur in delicate situations, too.

Texas’ current bullpen strategy has not worked. Their options are limited, but something has to be done. The questions is…what can be done?

Who takes the mound in the 7th inning?

Recent approach: It’s anybody’s game

Fix: Alex Claudio/Kevin Jepsen

Keep in mind, the proposed bullpen solutions are for games in which the Texas Rangers either have slight lead or a slight deficit. Such scenarios in the 7th inning should be split by Alex Claudio and Kevin Jepsen.

Last year, Claudio was trusted in practically any game situation. He spent time as the team’s closer; he even made a few starts. Though, in 2018, Claudio has been far from reliable.

He has a 7.50 ERA in 16 appearances this season. His opponent’s batting average is a scary .414 and he’s allowed a .433 OBP. What really stands out are his splits between right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters.

Batters from the right side of the plate are slashing .514/.538/.595 against Claudio, while lefties are slashing .238/.238/.429. Thus far, Claudio has been used more against right-handed hitters.

Jeff Banister should go back to using Claudio as a lefty specialist, at least for the time being. Give Alex Claudio the ball against lefties in the 7th inning. It’s okay if he has to face a righty in between, but most of his work needs to be done in favorable match-ups.

Kevin Jepsen has been better against right-handed batters, allowing just a .205 Batting Average Against. Jepsen is not quite what he was in his dominant days with the Los Angeles Angels (or perhaps Anaheim Angels at that point), but he’s shown he can still be effective.

A match-up-wise combination of Alex Claudio and Kevin Jepsen has great potential to maintain Rangers’ leads, or even deficits, in the 7th inning.

Who takes the mound in the 8th inning?

Recent approach: It’s anybody’s game

Fix: Jake Diekman/Jose Leclerc

The 8th inning is for pitchers with excellent stuff—pitchers that can put hitters away. Jake Diekman’s mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider will do the trick. In addition, his 3/4 arm slot makes for an uncomfortable at-bat. Unfortunately, that arm slot can also result in control issues, at times.

Nevertheless, Diekman has an experienced arm that has handled many 8th innings throughout its career. Jose Leclerc, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily have the experience, but he does have his own version of a wipeout pitch.

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Leclerc’s changeup/slider/cut-change—whatever you want to call it—is a baffling pitch for opposing hitters. Jose Leclerc has yet to give up a run in eight innings pitched this year. He is averaging over a strikeout per inning and has a solid 0.500 WHIP.

Leclerc has a very impressive .119 career opponent’s batting average against left-handed hitters. And he’s not to shabby against right-handed hitters either, allowing just a .205 opponent’s batting average.

Jake Diekman has struggled early; however, he’ll work things out in the long run. Ultimately, an 8th inning entrusted to Diekman and/or Leclerc will work out well.

Who takes the mound in the 9th inning?

Recent approach: Keone Kela

Fix: N/A

Last night’s performance aside, Keone Kela has done a nice job as the Texas Rangers closer. Actually, he didn’t even pitch that poorly in last night’s game.

Cleveland was able to square a couple of Kela’s curveballs, curveballs that were not necessarily poorly located. Even the grand slam pitch was a curveball that was headed towards the outside corner on a 2-2 count. Granted, Michael Brantley is known to be a low-ball hitter. But he’s not going to throw a high curveball, and Brantley is too disciplined of a hitter to chase a curve in the dirt. A good hitter hit a pretty good pitch, it’s as simple as that.

Point being, Keone Kela is the Texas closer and that should not change anytime soon. Kela has the makeup of a legitimate MLB closer. He’s a young pitcher that will thrive as long as his manager shows confidence in him.