Every MLB season, there are usually multiple players who have a rough year. Both hitters and pitchers should know what it’s like to be in a slump. Bullpen pitchers are included here. Although they don’t pitch every night, they come into some pretty tough situation where allowing just one run can lose the game. Here are five bullpen pitchers on AL teams that can bounce back in 2020 after not having their best season.
Chad Green (New York Yankees)
Last season was Chad Green‘s fourth in the MLB, all with the Yankees. He had a 4.73 ERA his rookie season. However, he pitched well the following two seasons when his ERA was 2.18 over 2017-2018. Then in 2019 it was back up at 4.17. He allowed a career high 66 hits and 32 earned runs that year. If he can get back towards his 2017 numbers, it can really benefit him and the Yankees this season.
Jake Diekman (Oakland Athletics)
Jake Diekman has struggled over the last few seasons. He’s pitched for four different teams since 2018. His ERA was 4.73 in 2018 and 4.65 last year. After pitching in eight MLB season, his career ERA is 3.90. The southpaw has a chance to pitch well this season and possibly even make his first All-Star game.
Kelvin Herrera (Chicago White Sox)
In his first season with the White Sox, Kelvin Herrera posted a 6.14 ERA in 57 appearances. The two-time All-Star and 2015 World Series champion hasn’t had an ERA that high since 2011 where he pitched just two innings and had a 13.50 ERA. Just one season prior to that in 2018, Herrera had a 2.44 ERA in 48 games.
He made his debut in 2011, but he is still just 30-years-old, so he should have some time to get back on track.
Lou Trivino (Oakland Athletics)
Lou Trivino has pitched in just two MLB seasons. One went well, and one didn’t. In his first season, he pitched 74 innings and had 82 strikeouts. His ERA was 2.92. It went way up the following season as he finished 2019 with a 5.25 ERA. Trivino’s hits were up last season as he allowed 61 hits in 60 innings. This contributed to his high WHIP of 1.533.
Mychal Givens (Baltimore Orioles)
In 63 innings pitched in 2019, Mychal Givens had a career high 4.57 ERA. It wasn’t crucial considering the Orioles finished 54-108 last year. The 63 innings he pitched were his lowest in a season since 2015. Even still, he allowed a career high 13 homers. The Orioles are not projected to do too well again this season. However, that doesn’t mean that Givens can’t go back to under a 4.00 ERA this season.
Givens could reach 400 career strikeouts this season as he is at 387 going into the 2020 MLB season.
Feature Image Courtesy of Newsday.
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