These five Texas Rangers relievers could replace the injured Jose Leclerc at closer
Another injury has stricken another key member of the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff, though not a starter this time.
It’s closer Jose Leclerc.
The shoulder tightness he felt Wednesday was diagnosed Thursday as a Grade 2 strain of the teres major muscle, the same injury as Corey Kluber, following an MRI exam before the team departed for its first road trip of the season.
Like Kluber, Leclerc will be shut down for up to four weeks before he is evaluated again. He might be available late in the season.
“We may reevaluate him a little bit earlier than that, but it’s about the same,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “You can’t just replace guys like that who have that kind of ability.”
The Rangers visit the San Francisco Giants on Friday night to open a three-game series, and the good news is every member of the bullpen will be available. That includes Jimmy Herget, who is taking Leclerc’s roster spot from the alternate camp site.
So, manager Chris Woodward will have some options to close the game if the Rangers have a lead entering the ninth inning. He might choose one reliever for the task going forward, or he might let matchups dictate who closes from game to game.
“I think Woody is still working through that,” Daniels said. “I’m not entirely certain if he will go with one person or go based on matchups and who’s throwing well.”
That doesn’t mean that all nine relievers are candidates. Right-hander Rafael Montero (forearm) and left-hander Joely Rodriguez (lat muscle) are still at least a week from even being activated from the injured list.
These five relievers, though, are likely in the closing mix:
Jonathan Hernandez
This right-hander has the best stuff in the bullpen after Leclerc, consistently pumping sinkers in the upper-90s that he offsets with a wipeout slider. Hernandez was hailed as the Rangers’ best reliever during summer camp.
However, he is also among the least experienced relievers, and Woodward said at the end of camp that he would be hesitant to put the closing burden on Hernandez. Yet, Hernandez has pitched in high-leverage situations in each of his three 2020 appearances.
Hernandez allowed two runs in the eighth inning Wednesday and was on the hook for a loss until the offense scored five runs in the bottom half as Leclerc warmed and felt the initial tightness.
“Woody’s put him in some pretty high-leverage spots already,” Daniels said. “I think he’s going to pitch in meaningful spots or at least get that opportunity, but so far he’s shown the ability to handle it. He’s got as good of stuff as you’re going to see, and it’s just a matter of consistency in the strike zone.”
Jesse Chavez
The veteran allowed two runs of his own Wednesday in the seventh inning, wasting a 2-0 lead. His sinking fastball can be an effective pitch, even though it comes in at only 89-92 mph.
The lack of a swing-and-miss offering, whether it be a cut fastball, changeup or slider, hurts his profile as a closer. He was already working earlier in games than Hernandez, so that might indicate the Rangers’ preferences, but he also has no shortage of experience.
He wouldn’t be rattled by the pressure that some pitchers feel protecting a lead.
Ian Gibaut
If Hernandez wasn’t the best pitcher in summer camp, Gibaut was. He pitched himself onto the team as a non-roster invite by allowing only one hit and two walks in five scoreless appearances.
His sudden ability to control his pitches, including a mid- to upper-90s fastball, has carried over into the regular season. He pitched in each of the Rangers’ three straight losses, allowing one run and only one walk.
But the recent track record of control issues could keep the Rangers from picking Gibaut, who has fewer big-league innings than Hernandez. That is also working against him.
Nick Goody
Goody was the choice Wednesday to fill in for Leclerc, and needed only 11 pitches to pick up his first career save. It’s hard to find anything wrong with an inning like that.
But he doesn’t overwhelm with his stuff, a fastball in the lower 90s and a slider as his off-speed offering. However, he attacks the strike zone and doesn’t issue a ton of walks.
Not giving away free bases works in his favor.
Edinson Volquez
The veteran checks a lot of boxes here.
His sinker sits in the 93-96 mph range and gets plenty of swings-and-misses, and he continues to have success with his changeup.
Volquez has the most experience on the pitching staff and would be unflappable in a tight spot in the ninth.
But his background as a starter and a third significant elbow injury in 2019 might keep him from being used as often as closers usually are.
