Angels Countdown to Spring - 23 Days

1/19/20 - Jay Sheehy - Founder and Editor-In-Chief 11:37 AM PST

Much has been said about the catastrophe that was the Los Angeles Angels pitching staff in 2019 (and rightfully so). Yet, that doesn’t mean the staff didn’t have its positives, the biggest of which was the ascension of Hansel Robles. His 2.6 BRef WAR was far and away tops on the team from the pitching side and his 1.018 WHIP and 2.48 ERA over 72.2 innings gives the Angels a solid option at closer entering the 2020 season.

Reason #23: Hansel Robles saves in 2019 (He could double it in 2020)

Of the 22 pitchers who tallied 20 saves in 2019, only six of them were able to keep their BB/9 under 2; Hansel Robles was one of them. Only nine had an HR/9 under 1; Hansel Robles was one of them. While much has been said about his pedestrian K/9 (where he ranked 19th out of the 22), Robles was skilled at inducing weak contact in 2019, as shown by the lack of extra base hits he gave up (11 doubles, six home runs). While his peripheral numbers speak to the possibility of regression, Robles thrived once he was permanently moved to the closer role.

At the end of April, Hansel Robles had only two save opportunities, both of which he completed. Then, he was the de facto closer in May, which was an up-and-down month for him. Finally, in June, when he was fully entrenched as the team’s 9th inning guy, Robles responded. His ERA entering June was 4.26 (after a blown save against Oakland on May 29th) yet from that point forward he was brilliant. Over the final four months of 2019:

44 games, 47.1 IP, 17 saves (2 blown saves), 1.52 ERA, 50 K, 9 BB, 3 HR, 9.51 K/9, 1.71 BB/9, 5.56 K/BB, 1.014 WHIP

These numbers are why no one should be scared off by the fact that Robles xFIP was 3.89, or that his SIERA was 3.54. He got better as the year went on and he settled into his role. Since he will be starting the 2020 season as the Angels closer, and not as someone without an undefined role, he will be much more likely to repeat the last four months of his season. And when he ends up doubling his 2019 save total of 23, it will be right around the time the Angels secured their spot in the playoffs.