One proverbial question mark the Los Angeles Dodgers faced early into the offseason centered around Kenley Jansen and his seemingly shaky status as closer. Jansen’s final appearance 2020 was a blown save in Game 4 of the World Series.
Julio Urias memorably logged the save the following night to clinch the championship for the Dodgers. It also wrapped up a postseason in which Jansen watched the ninth inning from the bullpen on multiple occasions.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts nevertheless said in December he considered Jansen the team’s closer, and reiterated that stance throughout Spring Training. Jansen has rewarded Roberts’ trust by converting four of five save opportunities so far in 2021.
His latest sealed a 1-0 victory for the Dodgers and series split against the Seattle Mariners. Jansen touched 97 mph and had impressive command and movement that seem to stem from receiving extra rest between appearances.
“The last three times I’ve caught Kenley there’s been a lot of conviction behind the throw. He’s coming out and attacking hitter,” Austin Barnes said. “He’s not letting the little things get to him anymore. If he gets behind, he goes right back at them. It’s not an easy job being a closer.
“There’s a lot on you, so I’m glad to see him doing so well. … He’s concentrated. He’s convicted in himself and got intent behind all his throws. That’s what’s important.”
Barnes said Jansen has shown flashes of this type of dominance in recent years but it has not been sustained since 2017 or 2018. “The way he’s throwing the ball, he’s got a little bit more clarity, I feel like, on the mound,” Barnes added.
“He knows what he wants to do, he wants to attack the guys with his mix. I feel like sometimes he would get a little bit clouded with pitch selection. They have to go hit him, so that’s good.”
The evolution process for Jansen has not only resulted in more two-seam fastballs being thrown but an increase in slider usage as well. It’s what he threw to get Kyle Seager swinging for the final out.
“I think when we do throw it, there’s a reason why we’re doing it. We’re not just trying to throw it over the middle of the plate for a strike,” Barnes explained of Jansen’s slider. “It’s not a pitch we want to get clipped on. He threw it great.
“It was down in the zone and caught the dirt too. When we have leverage counts like that where we can mix that pitch in, I think it makes his stuff even better.”
Roberts impressed with Jansen
Jansen’s appearance against the Mariners was reminiscent of the dominant form he showed during a save against the Washington Nationals. His increase in velocity and command garnered praise from Clayton Kershaw and Roberts at the time.
Jansen’s latest effort drew more approval from Roberts. “I hadn’t see a couple 97s (mph) in a while. It was really good,” Roberts said. “He’s worked really hard to stay within his delivery, keep his lower half strong and right. It was really exceptional.”
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