Blue Jays: Ken Giles is money when it matters most
Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles has been money when it matters most, however, the fireballer has faltered when called upon in non-save situations.
Ken Giles made his way north of the border after the closer and his inflated earned run average fell out of favour with Astros manager A.J. Hinch earlier this season. The Jays were looking to dump Roberto Osuna and his legal troubles and hence the closer swap was consummated.
The 27-year old has had a tale of two seasons and has the stat line to prove it. Giles is a perfect 22 for 22 in save opportunities with a 0.42 earned run average and an 11.2 K/9 rate. The right-hander has nailed down 10 games since joining the Blue Jays.
If 100-mile Giles can continue to slam the door late in games, the Jays could come out the victors in this trade seeing they also obtained pitching prospects David Paulino and Hector Perez with Giles for Osuna.
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It is when Giles is called upon in non-save situations that things get dicey, in 16 games where there was no save on the line he sports an ugly 9.12 earned run average with a 1.78 WHIP and an 8.0 K/9 rate.
Giles is earning $4.6 million this season and will not test free agency until 2021 so he could be at the back of the Jays bullpen for the immediate future. Throughout his 5-year career with Philadelphia, Houston and now Toronto, Giles owns a respectable 2.85 earned run average to go along with 87 career saves.
He was credited with two saves during the Astros successful playoff run last season although he did struggle, accumulating an 11.74 earned run average in seven postseason appearances.
Giles has the makeup and fastball to be an elite closer in Toronto for years to come and at least we already know he is money when it matters most.