Colorado Rockies: Team performance depends on bullpen success
The Colorado Rockies have a high-priced closing pitcher that is struggling when they need him the most. As the Rockies spent a lot of money to prevent losing leads late in games, will this situation cost them a spot in the playoffs?
Through 49 games in the 2018 regular season, Wade Davis is 1-5 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Although his FIP is 3.99, the Colorado Rockies expected more from their prized offseason addition.
Following the 2017 season, the Rockies signed Davis to a guaranteed three-year, $52 million contract. According to baseball-refernece, this figure includes a $1 million buyout on a $15 million mutual option for 2021. The mutual option does have a possibility of turning into a player option if Davis finishes 30 games in 2020.
As Davis held a 4-2 record with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP last season with the Chicago Cubs, his performance this year with the Rockies is fairly surprising.
Davis started out the season strong in March, April, and May. Through those months, he compiled 18 saves in 24 appearances. His ERA was 0.00 in March (1 appearance), 2.61 in April (11 appearances), and 2.31 in May (12 appearances).
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Unfortunately for Davis, his performance drastically changed in June. Through 11 appearances, he had 5 saves to go with a 9.31 ERA.
From March to the end of May, the Rockies were 30-26 and they were in first place in the NL West with a 1.5 game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks. After going 11-16 in June, the Rockies fell to 6 games out of first place, behind the Diamondbacks.
He did, however, turn things around in July when he recorded 8 saves in 12 appearances with a 3.65 ERA. With Davis performing well in July, the Rockies went 17-6 to climb their way back near first place. At the end of July, they were only 0.5 games behind the Diamondbacks.
Unfortunately for the Rockies, Davis has gotten off to a very rough start in August. On both August 2nd and 3rd, the team handed a lead over to their prized closer and he received a loss in each game. His 0-2, 45.00 ERA performance thus far in August has caused the Rockies to fall back to 2.0 games behind the Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
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The Rockies record each month has reflected how the bullpen has performed each month. As the performance of Davis in the closing role is so important to the success of the team, will Bud Black look to a different pitcher to close games, or hope that his current closer turns things around? If the Rockies do decide a change is needed, Adam Ottavino or Seunghwan Oh may soon see an opportunity to close out games.