CLEVELAND: The injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar have placed an intensified spotlight on Josh Tomlin and Mike Clevinger.
It’s also meant the bullpen, one of the most active units under Indians manager Terry Francona, will likely need to play an even bigger role in the postseason.
So far, the bullpen has responded. Since the addition of Andrew Miller ahead of the trade deadline, the Indians have owned arguably baseball’s best bullpen. It’s probable that they’ll need every bit of it in October.
Since Aug. 1, Miller, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister have combined for a 1.81 ERA and 119 strikeouts to only 25 walks in 103⅔ innings, per MLB.com.
Tomlin and Clevinger have had mostly positive results since Carrasco and Salazar went down, but neither is likely to last deep into a game and give the Indians 6-8 innings.
The Indians have felt comfortable going to the bullpen earlier, and that’s a possible blueprint for how they might need to win some games in the postseason.
Much of that is the result of Miller’s addition to the team. One of the most dominant relievers in baseball, Miller’s presence has allowed the others to come into more favorable spots. The effects have been twofold.
“Obviously he’s going to face the better left-handers,” Francona said. “And it’s not that Cody and Shaw can’t get them out, but it’s taken that off their plate. So not only are you getting a good pitcher, but you’re also getting a guy you can leverage against certain hitters that makes Cody, Shaw, Otero, whoever, makes their workload a little bit more manageable.”
That workload has been extensive for Shaw and Allen. Since the beginning of 2013 — when Francona became manager — Shaw (297) and Allen (286) rank first and fourth in the game in relief appearances, respectively. What’s more is that Shaw’s highest single-season ERA in that span is 3.24. Allen has been under 3.00 all four years.
“With Cody and Shaw, they’re pretty remarkable in their ability to bounce back,” Francona said. “Because there’s a couple things, too — it’s not just your willingness, but you have to be able to still get people out. They maintain their stuff.”
Shaw, more than any other Indians reliever, has received an overwhelmingly negative response from fans on social media after any loss, despite that consistency. But it has Otero impressed.
“It’s uncanny. I can’t even say how amazing that is as a reliever, to keep his arm, his mind in that shape to be able to do that,” Otero said. “I think some of it maybe is he doesn’t think about it too much. I think that helps him. It’s impressive to watch. You don’t see many relievers do that, go 70-75 games, 3-4 years in a row. He’s been able to do it and effectively.”
Francona loves going to his bullpen as much as any manager in the game. Miller has given him a lethal weapon to use anywhere between the sixth and ninth innings. Allen has been a steady closer. Otero and others have helped. None have entered more games than Shaw, almost all of them as the club’s primary set-up man.
“That’s why I probably do get protective of him — because he takes the ball when a lot of other pitchers may not take the ball,” Francona said. “And there’s something to be said for that. And he’s throwing harder now than he was in the beginning of the year. It’s amazing to me.”
If the Indians can advance deep into October, it’s possible that unit will be as needed as any.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ