Closing Time: Alex Wilson steps into the Detroit void
For most of the season, the Tigers didn’t look to Alex Wilson for holds. But in the new world order Thursday at Baltimore, the club decided the 28-year-old righty was worthy of a handshake.
Wilson only had two holds on the year through his first 38 appearances, despite a pretty set of ratios (1.84 ERA, WHIP under 1). With that in mind, it wasn’t clear if he’d be part of the closing chase after Joakim Soria was dispatched to Pittsburgh. Bruce Rondon had the big strikeout rate and seemed like someone who would get a chance, despite other flaws. Al Albuquerque also strikes guys out, though he has a walk problem. Blaine Hardy is generally a lefty specialist. Neftali Feliz has been horrendous since joining the Tigers; that's the first name I eliminated.
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Wilson ultimately was asked to do something we rarely see - record a five-out save, and deal with inherited runners. A 7-0 Detroit lead had been whittled down to 9-7 when Wilson entered the fray in the eighth, two Baltimore runners on. Wilson picked up two grounders in the eighth, then worked around a single in the ninth. Bless you, boys.
Rondon had a day of rest prior to Thursday, so we have to assume he was available. Perhaps manager Brad Ausmus wanted to use Alburquerque through the eighth but had to audible when things got hairy. And we also have to wonder if Wilson now needs a rest, after throwing 21 pitches in this great escape.
If Wilson succeeds in an extended chance as Detroit’s closer, it will be a pitch-to-contact story. He’s only struck out 33 batters in 55.1 innings, though he also has sparkling control (eight walks). A 50.6 ground-ball clip generally keeps him out of trouble, and he’s allowed a modest two home runs. That’s part of what the peripherals don’t completely trust the 1.79 ERA: FIP spits out a 2.90 number, and xFIP, if you believe in that school of thought, suggests 3.88.
Wilson was the busiest buy of the overnight, but he’s still ready to add in 85 percent of Yahoo leagues. The Tigers are still on the periphery of playoff contention and as this goes to post, Yoenis Cespedes is still in town. This hasn’t turned into Community Auditions yet. I never expect any team to go full committee in the bullpen, most skippers want defined roles. Why not take a shot here?
• As something of a San Francisco sympathizer, I have mixed feelings on the Mike Leake acquisition. He’s a useful pitcher and he’ll help the team and the price wasn’t exorbitant, but it’s a shame this Giants team didn’t have the pieces to land a true No. 2 starter. This rotation is Madison Bumgarner and then a lot of 3-5 types (and I say that liking Chris Heston more than almost anyone, and heck, Leake was on the Wallet List in March).
Leake’s career ERA in Cincinnati is a bloated 4.31; it tumbles down to 3.43 on the road. He should love San Francisco’s roomy park and air-tight infield. He’s obviously more valuable for head-to-head and uncapped fantasy leagues, because he’s never going to strike out a lot of guys.
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Leake has outperformed his FIP-suggested ERA for three straight years, so it’s no shock to see him doing it again for 2015. I suppose he’ll have an ERA somewhere in the 3.10-3.50 range the rest of the way, and be a good bet for people chasing wins. If I were shuffling pitchers right this moment, I’d slot him around $10.
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