ARLINGTON — The Rangers, after a series gone askew partly because of late-game bullpen mishaps, could’ve used something quick and painless for a change.
How’s this? Right-hander Jakob Junis needed just four pitches to record his first save of the season in the ninth inning of Monday’s 2-1 win vs. the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. He got catcher Cal Raleigh to ground out with his first pitch, hit center fielder Julio Rodriguez with his second and forced first baseman Josh Naylor to hit into a double play with his fourth.
That’s been par for the course in his first five games with the team. The 33-year-old has averaged 10.3 pitches per frame and posted a 74% strike percentage in the six scoreless innings he’s thrown this season. The Rangers signed Junis to a one-year, $4 million deal this winter with the intent for him to operate as a flexible and potentially multi-inning weapon in their bullpen.
But as he’s performed, and as the club has navigated some uncertainty at the back end of their relief staff, he’s earned greater opportunities.
“I’m not going to put anything in pen yet,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said, “but I like him in high-leverage roles.”
Schumaker declined to say whether Junis will be in the regular closer committee mix and said that the club is “still trying to figure out roles.” Right-hander Chris Martin and left-hander Robert Garcia have been the primary candidates to close games this season but have each faced struggles in high-leverage spots. Batters have hit .450 against Martin, who blew a save against the Philadelphia Phillies and allowed the go-ahead run to score Friday vs. the Cincinnati Reds, and Garcia is significantly better against left-handed hitters than right-handed ones.
Garcia pitched a scoreless eighth inning in Monday’s win against two left-handed hitters and a switch hitter who’s less effective on the right side of the plate. But, against all right-handed hitters this season, he’s allowed a .286 batting average and four walks in five games.
Schumaker acknowledged that Junis is “getting righties and lefties out.” His career splits favor him against right-handed hitters but he hasn’t allowed a hit to a left-handed hitter yet this season.
Junis broke into the major leagues as a starter with the Kansas City Royals but spent the last three seasons almost exclusively as a relief pitcher with four different teams. He had two career saves prior to this season and has largely pitched in low-to-medium leverage situations.
“It’s kind of a cliche, you know, pressure is a privilege,” Junis said. “Obviously getting those positions to help the team win, that’s where you want to be as a pitcher and a player, and it just feels good.”