Former Guardians one-and-done reliever could end up swinging AL West race for Rangers 

Earlier this week, the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff took a huge hit when they placed starter Cal Quantrill on the injured list, which moved every pitcher on the Rangers’ roster up a rung on the team’s trust tree. 

One pitcher who could become even more important due to Quantrill’s injury is Jakob Junis, another former Guardian who has picked up where he left off last season and been a shutdown reliever for Texas. 

Jakob Junis could help key the Rangers' run to the postseason

The Guardians’ decision to let Junis go in the offseason seemed a bit puzzling considering he played such a big part for them last season, and it became even more puzzling when he signed a $4 million contract with the Rangers, which was less than the deal he had with Cleveland.

Junis started the season with eight scoreless innings and even got some run as Texas’ closer before he settled into a role as one of the team’s top setup options.

He’s been consistent for most of the season and entered September with a 2.66 ERA, though it’s a bit higher now after he allowed four runs without recording an out on Sept. 10. 

Junis may not fill the hole in the rotation that Quantrill’s injury opens up, the Rangers are now going to need to think outside the box to fill innings, which could have a huge impact on a multi-inning reliever like Junis. 

He doesn’t strike out a ton of batters (16.8% whiff rate), but just 3.7% of the hits he’s allowed have been barreled and he’s walked a shade under 7% of the batters he’s faced. 

Although the Rangers entered play on Tuesday with a one-game lead over the Astros, both teams have fallen out of the Wild Card race, so the division is the only way they’re going to make the postseason.

Even if the guardians don’t have the division locked up just yet, they at least have the built in safety net of knowing they could make it via the Wild Card. The Rangers’ path toward October is a lot more direct. 

That path also features a lot of opportunities to play the Guardians, whether it be in the Wild Card Series (if the Rangers win the Wild Card and the Guardians win the AL Central), or in the Division Series (if the Guardians win the American League Central and the Rangers win the Wild Card Series). 

Junis was never the biggest name in the Guardians’ bullpen, but he was quietly elite in a bigger role after Emmanuel Clase was placed on paid leave. Now he has a great chance to do the same with the Rangers.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow