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Boston Red Sox: Top 3 internal closer options for team

By Matthew Trotta

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 07: Pitcher Marcus Walden #64 of the Boston Red Sox stands on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at Fenway Park, on April 7, 2018, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 07: Pitcher Marcus Walden #64 of the Boston Red Sox stands on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at Fenway Park, on April 7, 2018, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox Brandon Workman (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox Brandon Workman (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

1. Brandon Workman

Brandon Workman has had a well-deserved success story thus far through the 2019 season. In 27 1/3 innings pitched, he’s slapped up a very respectable 1.98 ERA with 39 punch outs, 18 walks, 8 hits, and 2 saves.

When digging deeper into Workman’s numbers, that is where my jaw dropped to the floor; opponents are batting .091 against him this year… Yeah that isn’t a typo.

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Another number that was mind-boggling to me was his WHIP is 0.95. Despite the high walk numbers, that is an outstanding spot to be at regardless of the role one may have within a pitching staff.

Here’s where it gets exciting with Workman; over his last 9 games (between May 15th-June 4th) he has posted up 8 1/3 inning he’s been lights out at a 1.08 ERA with 12 K’s, 4 walks, 3 hits, and 2 saves.

Looking at his numbers a bit further through his last 9, batters are hitting a soft .130 and has posted a .840 WHIP. What the last 9 games scream to us is that Workman has only improved and become more dominant as the year progresses as well as gaining a lot more trust from the squad and coaching staff in the later innings.

Workman’s numbers this year prove to me that he has the stuff to be able to wear the crown of being the Red Sox closer. With his 2 saves on the year coming in his last 9 outings, he may be the answer we’ve been looking for much sooner than later.

Regardless of his role, I expect Workman to continue his reign of dominance as a major league reliever for the remainder of the season and remain a crucial spot to the Red Sox bullpen.

Stay tuned on the Workhorse and if this isn’t an All-Star this year, he either got snubbed or he beat himself between now and the end of the voting period.

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