Dodgers: Can Kenley Jansen Be Trusted This Postseason? His Key Adjustment in Season
Kenley Jansen’s bounce back from blowing three consecutive saves following the all-star break, including one where he was booed off the mound after failing to convert his second straight save in as many nights to the rival Giants, is a big reason why the Dodgers bullpen finished with the lowest ERA in baseball from July 23 until the end the of the season.
LA’s bullpen put up a 2.46 ERA in 270.2 innings pitched to close out the year and Jansen’s dominance over the final two months of the season was a big reason why the team was able to tie the franchise record in wins at 106-56.
In Kenley’s last 30 appearances since being serenaded with boos by the Dodgers faithful, he went 17/17 in save opportunities while posting a 1.17 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, with 42 strikeouts to 10 walks in 30.2 innings pitched. In that stretch, opponents hit just .114 off of him, which was the lowest in the league for qualified relievers.
Following his wayward outings after the break, Jansen made some mechanical fixes that were aimed at bettering his command and the numbers prove that they were successful. The 3x all-star nearly cut his walk rate in half from 16 BB% to just over 8.6 BB% and increased his strikeout rate from 27.8 K% to 36.2 K%.
We discuss how Kenley Jansen was able to quickly get his season back on track and tell you why he looks primed for a dominant postseason run. Plus, is Kenley Jansen’s cutter better than ever and did the boos motivate him to get back to elite status?
WATCH: Can Kenley Jansen Be Trusted This Postseason, Kenley’s Key Adjustment, Did Boos Fuel Angry Kenley?
Kenley Jansen by the numbers in 2021
4/3-7/22
- 2.45 ERA
- 1.30 WHIP
- .178 OBA
- 27.8 K%
- 16 BB%
7/23-10/1
- 1.17 ERA
- 0.72 WHIP
- .114 OBA (1st in MLB in that span)
- 36.2% K%
- 8.6 BB%
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Kenley Is a future hall of fame superstar, he pitched a great game tonight
All the relievers were lights out tonight!! Kudos to the Dodgers!
I take back my past negative comments regarding Jansen, Because He has been Awesome lately. He should get a New Contract as far as I’m concerned. Keep it up Jansen-You are a True Blue Warrior!!!
GO DODGERS
More often than not, elite pitching beats elite hitting. Elite hitters fail 7 out of 10 times! It’s the mistakes that pitchers make that are the difference makers.