The Guardians have locked away a formerly lethal reliever, hoping he can again find the keys to return to his past, video-game-numbers level.
The urgency for him to break out has substantially increased. The Guardians need James Karinchak to return to form.
Last year, Karinchak posted a 2.08 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 39 innings. That feels like a decade ago now.
In 27⅔ innings this season, he had a 3.90 ERA, and his season seemed to be in a tailspin. The Guardians optioned him to Triple-A Columbus in an effort to allow him to work out any issues away from the daily pressures of major league games. The door back into the major league clubhouse would surely remain ajar. But it has taken time for Karinchak to find what he needs.
He's thrown 11⅓ innings in Triple-A, posting a 2.38 ERA with 21 strikeouts. He's progressed, but there have still been some signs that he's working through some things.
"Yeah, the results of the late have been good," Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis said of Karinchak. "We've seen a little bit of pullback in velocity, a little bit of stuff, not quite where it was, but at the same time in terms of the results he's getting little better feel for the strike zone. He's getting in a much better place."
While Karinchak's velocity is now something to watch, his control was the primary factor in his being sent to Columbus. In those 27⅔ innings, he walked 19.
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"Yeah, I mean, [it was] controlling counts more than anything else," Willis said. "Just from an attacking-a-hitter standpoint, just being a little more aggressive in the strike zone with both of his pitches, and then a bit of a challenge with the running game. So [he's] taking that time to focus on that as well."
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The Guardians' need for Karinchak to be a real force in the bullpen has multiplied, and on two fronts. The first is the bullpen's effectiveness, which has eroded lately.
But in the last two weeks? The bullpen has a 7.12 ERA, the fourth-worst in baseball, and that was before Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies , who scored four runs in the 10th inning. It also hasn't just been the overall effectiveness, it's been the timing: each home run, or walk, or run has seemingly arrived at the most inopportune times.
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Karinchak is also needed from purely a depth standpoint. The Guardians bullpen has been heavily taxed recently with Shane Bieber , Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill all on the injured list. The Guardians have had Xzavion Curry take on some extra innings, but they haven't wanted to directly convert him into a starting pitcher while he's been so effective all season as a reliever.
"Right now it's one of the concerns, not wanting to — we don't want to get him too far removed from that role," Willis said of Curry. "I mean, some people I'm sure think, 'Well, why don't we just shift him into starting into the rotation while we're kind of waiting for some guys to get back?' But at the same time, you don't want to fix something that's not broken."
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That element, combined with a few shorter starts, has the bullpen needing reinforcements. After starting Sunday's game, Curry will need a couple of days off. Sam Hentges , Nick Sandlin , Tim Herrin and Michael Kelly all threw at least 20 pitches — none of has thrown back-to-back days this season after throwing 20 pitches the day before. Trevor Stephan also made an appearance, and Enyel De Los Santos pitched in back-to-back games.
Only Emmanuel Clase and perhaps Eli Morgan are well rested. With Bieber, McKenzie and Quantrill on the injured list, reinforcements will be needed, and roster moves will likely be made. Peyton Battenfield and others could be used for spot starts until Quantrill or Bieber can return. But the bullpen needs some fresh arms as well.
It's unclear if Karinchak has provided enough confidence to the front office to make his way back to Cleveland. But the Guardians need him now — as soon as he proves he's ready to return. His fall from his height is being felt now more than ever.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians need James Karinchak to return to his best form
