Detroit Tigers: Bryan Garcia could be the new closer in a mangled bullpen
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers have had a terrible bullpen to start out the 2021 season, and it might be time to relinquish the closer role over to Bryan Garcia. Flamethrowing left-handed pitcher Gregory Soto has just simply not cut it as the closer, and Garcia has been the more reliable ninth-inning arm.
Overall as a unit, the Tigers bullpen has been a disaster to start out the 2021 season, but Garcia has been one of the Tigers’ more stable arms. Meanwhile, Buck Farmer is giving up home run after home run in his relief appearances this season.
The former University of Miami closer will likely be given a shot to be the team’s ninth-inning guy. Manager A.J. Hinch has stated that the closer’s role is going to be a revolving door as the 2021 season kicked off, and that is likely to be the case.
As the 2021 season kicked off, Soto was given the duties early on, but it seems like Garcia is better served for the job. Garcia was incredibly reliable in 2020, and ideally, he can be the team’s closer as the 2021 season continues.
The Detroit Tigers might be handing the reins of the closer job over to Bryan Garcia.
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The Tigers are under new management compared to the 2020 season. With Hinch employing Chris Fetter’s services as his pitching coach, the hope would be that Garcia can iron things out with Fetter’s help.
In 2020, Garcia had the closer role nailed down by the end of his season. Garcia logged 26 games where he finished 12 of them, notching four saves.
He totaled 21.2 innings pitched with a 1.66 ERA and a 1,29 WHIP. He may not have a high strikeout rate, but he gets outs.
However, in 2021, the Tigers have not seen the best performance from Garcia. So far, he has pitched in six games, finished two of them for two saves.
Garcia has logged 6.2 innings where he features a 5.40 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP for the Tigers.
He had two rough outings for the Tigers in 2021, but he will level off his stats if he can continue to iron things out. As the saying goes, water will find its level. The same is true for Garcia and his 2021 performance.
His 2020 season stats were impeccable, and if he can find that level of performance in 2021, the Tigers should be able to use Garcia as the ninth-inning guy, even if it just for a few outings.
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While the Tigers continue their 2021 season, expect Garcia to get a few more reps as the Tigers ninth-inning guy.