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

Amir Garrett just doesn’t have it right now. The Cincinnati Reds, leading 3-0 heading into the top of the ninth during last night’s game versus the Arizona Diamondbacks, fell in dramatic fashion after Garrett surrendered the three-run lead. The Reds eventually lost the ballgame 8-5 in extra innings.

This is the not first time that Garrett has struggled during the early part of the 2021 season. Garrett has been rocked and carries the highest ERA (16.20) on the team. Were it not for Joey Votto’s triple-play last Saturday versus the Cleveland Indians, Garrett might well be staring at an ERA over 20.00.

The Reds cannot count on Amir Garrett to be the closer right now.

This is uncharted territory for Amir Garrett, who recorded his first career save last season. AG is used to mowing down opposing batters, flexing and roaring on the mound, and receiving a fair amount of adulation from the Cincinnati faithful.

During the offseason, Garrett made it clear that he wanted the role of closer. After all, Raisel Iglesias found a new home in Los Angeles, and the Cincinnati Reds needed a reliable pitcher to turn to with the lead in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, Garrett has not performed well in that role this season.

Garrett has two saves on the season, and neither one was spotless. On April 5th versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, Garrett walked a batter, surrendered two hits and allowed one run en route to his first saves of 2021. On April 9th against the Arizona Diamondbacks, AG walked two batters before securing the final three outs. Garrett has yet to have a flawless outing this season.

Garrett, in a postgame interview, took his medicine and admitted that the team’s previous two losses were on him. While Garrett’s honesty is admirable, David Bell has now been backed into a corner. While last night was Garrett’s first official blown save of the season, AG cannot be counted on in high-leverage situations right now. So, who should be the Reds closer going forward?

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.

Sean Doolittle, Reds left-handed pitcher

Count me among the skeptics when the Cincinnati Reds signed veteran left-hander Sean Doolittle this offseason. While the signing wasn’t the worst we’ve ever seen from the Reds front office, after watching Cincinnati deal Raisel Iglesias to the Los Angeles Angels and non-tender Archie Bradley, this felt like a desperation move to help shore up the bullpen.

So far, Doolittle has pitched well. The left-hander has two wins on the young season and has seen the field eight different times. While Doolittle has yet to record a save in 2021, the former Washington Nationals’ closer has plenty of experience finishing out ballgames. Doolittle has 111 saves over his career and has eclipsed 20-plus saves four times in his career.

Doolittle currently owns a 2.70 ERA, but Doolittle does have one blown save on the season; his lone save opportunity while the Reds were out in San Francisco. While it wasn’t in the ninth inning, Doolittle served up a gopher ball to Evan Longoria with the Reds up 5-3 in the sixth inning on April 13th.

Doolittle was charged with the blown save after Carson Fulmer, who took over on the mound, allowed an RBI triple to tie the game. The Reds would eventually lose by a score of 6-5. Doolittle has rebounded since, facing 10 batters over the past three games, allowing just one hit, no runs and striking out five.

If you’re looking for an experienced closer, Sean Doolittle is your guy. In 134 career opportunities, Doolittle has an 82.8% save percentage. Doolittle also has only allowed lefties to hit .187 off him during his career. If the opposing team presents a left-handed heavy lineup in the ninth inning, perhaps David Bell should turn to Sean Doolittle instead of Amir Garrett.