Cleveland Indians: How the bullpen became one of MLB’s worst

Underachievers

1. The Indians were counting on players stepping up in wake of free-agent losses, and it just hasn’t happened.

Did the Tribe think Tyler Olson could be the next Shaw. How else do you explain the left-hander facing 21 right-handers. Olson does his job against lefties, but righties are making him around the park going 8-for-21 with two home runs.

Olson salvaged his big-league career a season ago after being given up on by the Yankees. In 20 regular-season appearances, he didn’t allow an earned run.

Interestingly, Olson aced 35 right-handers compared to 42 left-handers in 2017. Like this year, he fared really well against lefties, and he held his own against righties hitting .219.

2. Zach McAlister is a big offender in the underachieving department, as the veteran right-hander has a 9.00 ERA in three innings pitched.

McAlister relies on two pitches, his fastball and his curveball, and the heat, which he throws 81.5 percent of the time, according to FanGraphs, isn’t getting the job done.

The velocity on his fastball has dipped slightly, from 95.3 miles per hour last season, to 94.3. It’s a slight drop-off, but not worth overlooking.

3. Right-hander Nick Goody has been ineffective (6.94 ERA), and Jeff Beliveau has been designated for assignment.  Matt Belisle was too, after allowing six earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.

4. Closer Cody Allen blew the save in the series finale against the Yankees, and that’ll happen, but even the reliable closer hasn’t been immune to the pen’s decencies.

Allen’s now allowed 6 earned runs in his last four innings.