Washington Nationals: Can Javy Guerra Help Solve Bullpen Woes?
After claiming him off waivers on Monday afternoon, can veteran reliever Javy Guerra help solve the Washington Nationals bullpen woes?
On Monday afternoon the Washington Nationals continued their bullpen game of musical chairs that has been going on all season long. The Nationals pulled the plug on left-hander Dan Jennings, designating him for assignment after a string of awful performances from the get go.
Washington replaced Jennings on the roster with reinstating Tony Sipp from the IL, and Sipp promptly gave up a hit in the eighth inning last night giving the New York Mets a two-run lead.
Between Sipp and Jennings there does not seem to be much of a differential in level or production, but Washington did make one more interesting move on Monday. The team claimed veteran reliever Javy Guerra off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Guerra has been in the Major Leagues for nine season now, and actually has had a very solid year in Toronto to this point. In 11 games, Guerra has given up six runs in 14 innings, good enough for a 3.86 E.R.A. He has struck out 15 batters in those 14 innings, and walked just five.
Throughout his career Guerra has never been a great reliever, and has struggled with consistency in a big way. He was solid in 2017 for the Miami Marlins, posting a 3.00 E.R.A. in 21 innings. Next season he was brought back to Miami again, and had a terrible year giving up 27 runs in 35.2 innings pitched.
Expectations were low for Guerra this season in Toronto, but by all accounts he has pitched much better than expected.
Now Guerra is not going to be the guy to come in and single-handily save the Nationals bullpen. Heck, at this point I am not even sure Craig Kimbrel could do that himself, but he could provide a solid late-inning option who has experience pitching in big situations.
Next. Washington Nationals: Late Inning Mistakes Down Nationals. dark
With the state of the Washington Nationals bullpen, it almost makes sense to take a flyer on every single reliever they possibly can. Javy Guerra will not be the savior to fix there Washington bullpen woes, but theres a chance he could at the very least improve it the slightest bit. At the stage the Nationals are at, chances are all they have, so might as well take every one you get.