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Sean Doolittle 2020 Outlook: Good Health Yields Good Results
5 years agoNationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle had a tumultuous 2019, proving effective but suffering from overuse before rebounding in the playoffs. Doolittle had a 2.72 ERA with a 51/11 K/BB ratio over 43 innings through July 24, when he notched the save in each game of a doubleheader. That speaks to his heavy usage, and 10 appearances later he’d be placed on the 10-day Injured List with diminished velocity. His hard-hit rate was listed on Fangraphs as 29.6% in the first half, jumping to 50.7% after the All-Star break. This is backed by the 2.95 FIP in the first half that leapt to 6.39, so Doolittle drafters will need to hope Nats skipper Davey Martinez has devised a plan for 2020. To his credit, Martinez had Doolittle work low-leverage spots in September and then work as usual in the playoffs, allowing two runs and one walk over 10 ⅓ IP. While durability is a perpetual concern with the 33-year-old southpaw, his staff ranking of 142 points to immense value when juxtaposed with his NFBC ADP of 203.
