Top 25 MLB players to watch in October
9. Danny Salazar
The Cleveland Indians redefined how a bullpen should be used in the playoffs last season, and they may ratchet things up to an even higher level this year. Andrew Miller and Cody Allen are back to shorten games to five innings, but they’ll have one more weapon out in the bullpen to make life miserable for the rest of the American League — right-hander Danny Salazar.
Danny Salazar's stuff is so good. If he can throw strikes, he could be a real postseason weapon in the bullpen for the #Indians.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) September 16, 2017
No one doubts that Salazar has some of the best raw stuff in the game. Commanding it has proved the bigger problem this year. Back-to-back starts in which he allowed 10 earned runs in 5.1 innings. Pitching in shorter, explosive bursts has helped Salazar with throwing strikes so far. In four appearances in relief, he has walked only one with seven strikeouts.
A locked-in Salazar coming in and throwing smoke out of the bullpen for two or three innings at a time would allow the Indians to make virtually every playoff game a five-inning game. The game has changed, and Salazar’s ability to get outs without contact is more valuable than ever in a short series. Pitching in relief is still very new to him, but the Indians were smart to make the move as early as they did to allow him to ease into his new role.