RADIO
Jose Leclerc 2020 Outlook: Volatile Relief Option At Fickle Position
5 years agoAfter a dominant 2018 campaign, Jose Leclerc fell back to earth for the Texas Rangers in 2019 with 14 saves, a 4.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 100 strikeouts in 68.2 IP. Leclerc was locked into the team’s closing role at the start of the year, but inconsistencies in April led to two blown saves and an 8.44 ERA by months end, forcing the Rangers to find a different ninth-inning option. Leclerc lost effectiveness with his slider as his whiff-rate on the pitch fell over 15% to 41.1%, still a strong number, but a new lifetime low. Walks also burdened the right-hander as a troublesome 13.1% BB% placed him in the bottom-20 among all qualified relievers. Since the club dealt away several arms at the 2019 trade deadline, Leclerc regained the closing job in August and appears as the favored option to begin in the role for 2020. His high K-rate plays well in fantasy, but his track record suggests his ratios will stay closer to the 2019 version of himself than the 2018 one. Leclerc can return value at his 171 ADP, but heed caution that his closing job could end up as a game of hot potato.
