Cincinnati Reds: Who should replace Amir Garrett as the closer?

Lucas Sims, Reds right-handed pitcher

To me, the answer is simple; Lucas Sims should be the Cincinnati Reds closer. I’ve been pounding the drum for Sims to be David Bell’s go-to with the game on the line since Raisel Iglesias was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels this winter. While Amir Garrett has a boisterous personality, Sims has quiet confidence and let’s his pitching do the talking.

It was assumed during spring training that the competition for the closer’s role would come down to Garrett and Sims. While AG is typically deadly versus left-handed batters, his success-rate against right-handed hitters is not that good. Sims has the ability to get outs against both lefties and righties.

With last year’s newest rule that requires pitchers to face at least three batters, opposing managers can turn to their bench late in games and force Amir Garrett to face right-handed hitters. Last season, Garrett allowed a slash line of .231/.268/.538 versus right-handed batters.

Lucas Sims, however, had relatively identical splits versus both left-handed (.527 OPS-against) and right-handed (.582 OPS against) hitters in 2020. So far this season, Sims has appeared in seven games, recorded one save, and owns a 3.00 ERA and nine punch outs over 6.1 innings.

Sims has proven to be quite the competitor. After Tuesday night’s torrential downpour saw Sims surrender the lead in the eighth inning with a hit-by-pitch and a bases loaded walk, the right-hander told David Bell that he wanted to go back out and finish off the inning. Sims got the final two outs and left the bases loaded.