As the Dodgers continue their quest for an elusive seventh World Championship, they will start the best-of-five National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX on Tuesday not knowing if they can count on Kenley Jansen to be their shutdown closer.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has consistently backed Jansen as the team’s closer, even when he faltered during the regular season. Has Roberts’ confidence in Kenley been shaken due to his continued and unexplained drop in pitch velocity?

In the Dodgers September 30, 2020 Wild Card Series game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Jansen was summoned from the bullpen in the ninth inning to preserve the Dodgers two-run lead, which he did to earn the save in the crucial Game-1 victory. However, only two of Jansen’s 16-pitches reached 90 mph (both 4-seam fastballs). His eight cutters – his one-time unhittable All-Star-worthy signature pitch – ranged in speed from 86 to 89 mph, and his sliders were 79 to 80 mph.

Jansen was well rested. He had appeared briefly (nine pitches) in the ninth inning of the Dodgers September 27 regular-season finale against the Anaheim Angels, so fatigue was not a factor. No one paid attention to the last game of the season when the Dodgers, with the best record in all of baseball at 43-17, had assured themselves of home team (not field) advantage throughout the playoffs. But looking back on that outing, there were ominous warning signs. Only two of Jansen’s pitches reached 90 mph, and the Angels hitters were more interested in packing their bags than extending the game.

Although storm-warning flags should be visible, Roberts continues to publicly-support and endorse Jansen as his team’s closer.

“He’s our closer,” Roberts insisted, immediately following last Thursday’s Wild Card Series-clincher in which he called upon 21-year-old right-hander Brusdar Graterol to close (and save) the game, not Jansen. In fact, Jansen wasn’t even warming up in the Dodgers’ bullpen.

Perhaps it was prearranged that Jansen would have the night off after throwing 16-pitches the night before; this despite Roberts’ earlier claim that everyone was available that night for the potential series clincher. Or was it something else? Did Dodger fans observe a manager preparing for future games being closed by committee instead of his once money-in-the-bank closer Kenley Jansen?

When the Dodgers desperately need a shutdown closer for the remainder of the 2020 playoffs, will Roberts’ faith in Jansen wain? Will what worked against Brewers hitters Eric Sogard, Keston Hirua, Jace Peterson, and slumping Christian Yelich, get the job done against the incredibly powerful lineups of the Padres, Braves, Yankees, or Rays?

You should probably give that some serious thought before wagering on it.

  *  *  *  *  *  *