Blue Jays’ Aaron Loup not performing despite misleading ERA

On the surface, Toronto Blue Jays situational lefty Aaron Loup appears to be having a respectable season posting a 2.76 earned run average in 19 appearances out of the Blue Jays pen.

The more you delve into the numbers, you quickly realize that Loup has allowed an exorbitant amount of base runners especially seeing the reliever is utilized in situations late in the game to face a lefty or two.

Thus far Aaron Loup has pitched 16.1 innings allowing 16 hits, walking 9 and hitting 4 batters, so in essence, 29 baserunners have reached base in the relievers 19 appearances. The 29-year-old has been more lucky than good as only 5 of those 29 baserunners have come back to score

The 29-year-old has been more lucky than good as only 5 of those 29 baserunners have come back to score giving Loup a 79.7% base runners stranded percentage.

Loup has an inflated WHIP (Walks/Hits/ Innings Pitched) of 1.531 that ranks him tied for 364th place out of major league pitchers. Last season Loup was terrible earning a 5.02 ERA and extremely effective, however, his WHIP in 2016 was lower at 1.326.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

The concerning issue is that Loup is often brought into the game to face a tough lefty, retire the out and hit the showers. This season lefties are actually hitting better than righties versus the southpaw, left-handed batters are hitting .261 while right-handed batters are hitting at a .238 clip versus Loup.

His 2017 splits are reversed for his career norms where lefties are hitting .209 compared to .261 for righties.

So the real question is if Loup cannot effectively get left-handed hitters out in a situational role what is the benefit of keeping him around? Would the Blue Jays be better served with the likes of Chad Girodo who is dominating lefties in Buffalo?

Girodo has a 2.70 ERA but lefties are only hitting .105 off of him as opposed to the .365 clip righties have hit him. Girodo is a true lefty specialist who could only be utilized versus lefties much like what Loup is on the roster for.

Next: Blue Jays’ Joe Smith proving to be a masterful addition

At some point, the Blue Jays are going to have to part ways with Loup and find a reliever who can actually be relied upon to get lefties out late in games. Loup has proved over and over he is not the man for the job.