What Justin Slaten's return could mean for dominant back end of Red Sox' bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Justin Slaten is ready to pitch for the Boston Red Sox. As a result, the team may just have the best back end of any bullpen in the American League.
Of course, with closer Aroldis Chapman having the best season of his career, the most important part of that equation has been in place for the whole year. Yet with Garrett Whitlock turning a corner this summer (to the tune of a 0.87 ERA and 0.823 WHIP since June 29), an effective Slaten could give the Red Sox a 1-2-3 punch that will be relied upon to lock down the most important wins of the season.
That may be a lot to put on the (recovering) right arm of Slaten, but the 27-year-old has certainly displayed the stuff that would lead to such proclamations being made.
Slaten will be activated from the injured list on either Wednesday or Thursday in Baltimore, manager Alex Cora told reporters, according to The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey. Slaten spent all of June and July and most of August on the IL due to a nerve issue in his neck and shoulder. He made three rehab appearances with Triple-A Worcester, pitching three innings of relief while allowing just one unearned run on one hit and one walk while striking out five of the 12 batters he faced.
Prior to the injury, Slaten made 24 appearances out of the Boston bullpen this season. Though his 3.47 ERA was higher than his 2.93 ERA from his rookie season, he did have a 0.900 WHIP, having allowed 14 hits and seven walks in his 23.1 innings of work.
Provided Slaten pitches as well as he’s capable of pitching, his value should come through particularly on nights when Whitlock — or Chapman — is unavailable. Slaten, who’s gone more than one inning in 20 of his 68 career appearances, also can be the lone bridge from the starter to Whitlock when needed.
Chapman’s season, his first in Boston, has been well-chronicled. But the absurdity of his numbers has only grown as the season has gone on. He hasn’t allowed a hit or a run since July 23. He’s allowed one earned run since May 28. On Fangraphs, his 2.1 WAR is the second-highest for a reliever in all of baseball, just behind Adrian Morejon at 2.2. Baseball Savant has him in the 100th percentile for xERA and xBA, and in the 99th percentile for whiff rate and K rate.
At 37 years old, Chapman is maintaining a 1.07 ERA. His career-best ERA in any full season was 1.51, all the way back in 2012. He hasn’t posted an ERA under 2.00 since 2016.
Whitlock hasn’t been quite as dominant … but he’s been close. His 1.7 WAR on Fangraphs has him ranked eighth among MLB relievers this year. He’s allowed one earned run since July 6. After blowing four saves between April 30 and May 13, he’s blown zero, picking up 17 holds and a win since June.
Obviously, the eighth and the ninth innings are easy decisions for manager Alex Cora.
In the innings prior, though, Cora has turned to a variety of arms in late-and-close situations — Greg Weissert, Justin Wilson, Jordan Hicks, Brennan Bernardino and deadline addition Steven Matz chief among them — to varying degrees of success.
With the highest-stress games now coming in September and October, Slaten now figures to be Cora’s top option.
