Blake Treinen has arguably been the most valuable relief pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen this season.
He leads all Dodgers’ relievers with 52.2 innings pitched and has posted a 1.88 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 29.3% strikeout rate, 7.3% walk rate and 1.6 WAR in 52 games. Treinen’s success has led to calls for him to replace Kenley Jansen as the Dodgers’ closer.
Manager Dave Roberts has regularly stated Jansen remaining closer is best for the team, and more recently he outlined what benefit comes with Treinen pitching in a flexible role.
“With Blake, we’ve used him in leverage — call it the fifth inning, sixth inning, seventh inning — and a certain part of the lineup,” Roberts said. “Being a fireman and be able to go one-plus, I think has allowed us to win a lot of ballgames.”
When Roberts was asked if they have anyone who could fill Treinen’s role if he was to replace Jansen as the closer, he answered, “We don’t.”
Although Jansen came out of the All-Star break with three consecutive blown saves, Roberts continued going to him and the right-hander has responded.
While Jansen does have a 2.98 ERA and 28.4 K% in 48.1 innings while converting 25 saves out of 30 chances this season, some of his statistics suggest good fortune has been a factor. Jansen’s 3.57 FIP and career-high 4.60 xFIP and 15.2 BB% are all concerns moving forward.
If Jansen can get his walks under control, he should be good enough to keep his role. But if he keeps pitching as he has, it is likely his ERA will start moving toward his FIP and xFIP, which has already happened over the last few weeks.
Because Treinen is so valuable as the fireman, if the Dodgers do decide to replace Jansen as the closer at any point, it would likely go to Corey Knebel, who has impressed since returning from a lengthy stint on the injured list because of a right lat strain.
Treinen reacts to Scherzer, Turner trade
When the Dodgers acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals, Treinen was shocked because he considered the All-Star shortstop someone that a franchise could be built around.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman also said he heard from other players in the clubhouse who were excited by the news.
“Guys are really excited, obviously,” Friedman said. “Scherzer was someone people expected to move and I know a lot of our guys were hoping he would end up being their teammate. So I think by adding him and Trea, it provided a little jolt.”
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