Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez had the second most career relief appearances without recording a save. That streak ended on Sunday.
Over the course of most relief pitcher’s careers, they end up recording the odd save here or there. Perhaps the regular closer is unavailable for some reason, or the matchup is just right to have that reliever record the final out. It may not happen often, but the occasional save comes to pass.
There there is Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez. Over the course of his first 328 appearances in the majors, he had not recorded a save. That was the second most appearances in major league history without a save, with at least 80% of those outings coming in relief, trailing only the well-traveled Ryan Webb.
That changed on Sunday. Baez pitched the bottom of the 11th inning in the Dodgers 4-3 victory over Diamondbacks, striking out Tim Locastro while pitching a perfect inning. When Eduardo Escobar grounded to third for the final out of the game, Baez had finally earned his first career save.
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Baez had actually spent some time as a closer in the minors. he has 14 saves in his minor league career, with 12 of those coming in 2014. However, with the presence of Kenley Jansen in the back of the Dodgers bullpen, save opportunities for other pitchers have been few and far between.
Over his career, Baez has been a relatively solid reliever, albeit typically in lower leverage situations. In his 328 games prior to Sunday, he had posted a 3.08 ERA and a 1.110 WHiP, striking out 349 batters with 110 walks in 329.2 innings.
This save may not be the last of Baez’ career. Jansen has struggled this season, showing some cracks in the armor after years of being one of the top closers in the game. Joe Kelly, who presumably would have been next in line to close should anything happen to Jansen, has struggled this year. Baez may have pitched his way into, at the very least, a bit of a timeshare in the closer role.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez notched his first career save on Monday. Based on necessity, it may not be his last.