Dodgers: Brusdar Graterol just became a lot more important
By Kevin Henry
With Los Angeles Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel being sidelined for a short time with a back injury, the pressure will likely be on Brusdar Graterol to come through in the late innings at Chavez Ravine.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will count on Brusdar Graterol this week perhaps more than ever
After Kimbrel took a line drive off his back in the ninth inning of Sunday’s home loss to the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Kimbrel would be unavailable for “at least a couple of games.” While Kimbrel has been the closer for the Dodgers this season and leads the team with 14 saves, there are some numbers of concern, including his 4.78 ERA, 9.6 hits per nine innings, and ERA+ of just 89. However, Kimbrel’s 1.98 FIP indicates there is also some bad luck involved with his time on the mound this season.
Despite Kimbrel’s concerning numbers, Roberts has been adamant that he is not moving out of the closer role when he returns. But what does Los Angeles do in the upcoming days that Kimbrel is shelved? That’s where Graterol is likely to be put in a position to make big pitches in the final inning.
Of the three players who have saves for the Dodgers this season (Kimbrel, Graterol, and Daniel Hudson, who is on the 60-day injured list), only Graterol will be available for the ninth inning when the Colorado Rockies kick off a three-game series in Los Angeles on Monday. The 23-year-old right-hander picked up his lone save of the season on June 26 in an extra-winning road win at the Atlanta Braves, and that came one night after Graterol was tagged for two runs in the eighth inning and took the loss against Atlanta.
With six Dodger relievers currently on the injured list, Roberts has to have faith in Graterol. This is also a chance for the young reliever, who has appeared in 100 career games, to show his growth and ability to be a ninth-inning option any time this season.
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Graterol’s 3.75 ERA/3.50 FIP/1.056 WHIP are solid numbers, but his 6.75 ERA in 14 games (13.1 innings) this season at Chavez Ravine is something to watch. He has been much stronger on the road (1.99 ERA in 22.2 innings over 19 games) this season, but the Dodgers will need him to come up big in L.A. this week as Kimbrel heals from his injury.