Remember back to the beginning of the season when Dodgers right-hander Yimi Garcia was good – I mean really really good? When he would enter late in the game and Dodger fans felt as confident as they did when Kenley Jansen would enter a game? In fact, many Dodger fans and media types were wondering why Dodgers manager Don Mattingly didn’t just name him as the Dodgers closer until Kenley returned from his foot surgery instead of doing the closer-by-committee thing.

During the month of April Garcia posted a 2-0 record, had one save and one blown save. He allowed only one run on four hits in 11.2 innings pitched for an outstanding 0.77 ERA while striking out 19 and walking only three. Like I said, he was really really good.

But in May things began to change – a lot. He posted an 0-2 record, had two blown saves, allowed six runs on 11 hits in 10 innings pitched for a far less attractive 5.40 ERA. That sure-thing confidence that Dodger fans had come to enjoy from Yimi quickly became an “uh oh” when he emerged from the Dodgers bullpen.

Although things improved a bit during the first two weeks of June, he is 1-1 with one blown save (but won the game) having allowed four runs on eight hits in his 11.2 innings of work for a much better 3.09 ERA – with three games remaining in the month.

However, and this is a huge however, if you look at Garcia’s last seven outings, he is 0-0 and has allowed zero runs and only three hits in his last 7.1 innings of work for a 0.00 ERA. But perhaps more importantly, Garcia has struck out 10 while walking none. In other words, whatever glitch Garcia had, it appears that he has fixed it – and not a moment too soon.

In his last seven outings, Garcia has struck out 10 of the 23 batters he has faced, without allowing a run. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

With the recent return of Joel Peralta and the pending return of Brandon League from the disabled list (perhaps as early as Monday in Arizona), someone has to go in the Dodgers bullpen. As it stands at this moment, only Garcia, left-hander Adam Liberatore and right-hander Pedro Baez (who himself returned from the DL on Friday), are the only three who still have options. It’s safe to say that Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell and Juan Nicasio aren’t going anywhere, which leaves only Garcia, Baez and Liberatore as movable pieces to make room for Brandon League and the $7.5 million still owed to him for 2015.

Although the 39-year-old Peralta has struggled a bit since returning from the DL last week, he was pretty much lights out as the substitute closer during Jansen’s absence in April, posting a 1-0 record and collecting three saves without allowing a run (0.00 ERA). That being said, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi have shown us that they aren’t afraid to eat a contract to get rid of someone, and the Dodgers are on the hook for $2.5 million for Peralta this year with club options for $2.5 million for each of 2016 and 2017 with no buyout – a very interesting contract, to say the least.

But regardless of who stays or goes in the coming days, one thing is for certain – Yimi Garcia has definitely made that pending decision very difficult for Friedman and Zaidi, and you’ve got to love that.