Don Mattingly announced the Dodgers will be using a new closer:
Javy Guerra was given the opportunity to open the season as the Dodgers’ closer after posting a 2.31 ERA and 21 saves in 23 chances last year, but most felt it was only a matter of time before Kenley Jansen would stake his claim on the role. That time is now.
Javy Guerra’s FIP is 1.58 and his xFIP is 2.02. Jansen’s numbers are 2.71 and 2.54. This decision is being made on a small sample size, not on what these two pitchers are actually doing. Guerra has allowed a large number of line drives compared to Jansen, but again, anything can happen in a low number of at bats.
Jansen may very well do better than Guerra as a closer, but Guerra would have likely improved if given time.
All the same small sample size disclaimers apply to this:
Career totals IP/xFIP/tERA/SIERA
JG: 59.0/3.64/3.87/3.39
KJ: 97.1/2.41/1.97/1.84
I’ll take the better performer with the larger sample against major league hitting. It is worth noting however, that javy is striking out more, and walking fewer, than he ever has, is he improving? He is also suffering from a huge BABIP (.485!) and a low strand rate (61.9%). On the other hand, Javy is outperforming his track record, whereas Kenley is right around what you’d expect of him. So let’s see if Javy can become one of the better setup guys and the dodgers can start turning games into 7 inning affairs.
It is like waving a white towel when Guerra comes in over the past few weeks. Location,location,location. Let him figure it out under less stress.