Blake Treinen named closer for Washington Nationals
By John Buhler
Days before Opening Day of the 2017 MLB season, Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker has named right-hander Blake Treinen the club’s closer.
One of the bigger unresolved issues surrounding the Washington Nationals this spring trainmen has reached a conclusion. Nationals manager Dusty Baker has decided to make right-hander Blake Treinen Washington’s closer at the start of the season.
Baker announced his closer on Thursday morning. Washington opens its 2017 MLB season at home against the National League East rival Miami Marlins at 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday, Apr. 3.
The Washington Post‘s Chelsea Janes reports that Baker had considered right-hander Koda Glover for the closing role, “but…durability and Treinen’s sinker were decisive factors.”
Blake Treinen will be the Nationals closer, Dusty said.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 30, 2017
Dusty said the Nationals also considered Glover, but seemed durability and Treinen's sinker were decisive factors.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 30, 2017
Treinen has three years worth of big league experience, mostly in the Nationals bullpen. He has appeared in 148 games with Washington, but only has one career save prior to 2017 coming last season.
Given that he is a sinkerballer, Treinen is not going to record a ton of strikeouts as the Nationals closer. However, being able to induce ground balls could be beneficial in getting quick outs in the top of the ninth at home.
Treinen has a career 2.91 ERA and a 1.327 WHIP. His FIP has been at 3.43 since arriving in Washington, with a 137 ERA+. Treinen’s numbers indicate that he can be an effective big league closer even though he won’t strike out the side.
Next: 27 MLB Records That Will Never Be Broken
It’s rare that a team doesn’t go with a fireballer or a guy with a devastating change-up in the closing role. However, this is far from Baker’s first rodeo as a major league manager. The dude invented the high-five, so of course he can put a sinkerballer into close game for the Senior Circuit contending Nationals.