DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 12: Bryan Garcia #33 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the game against the Chicago White Sox at at Comerica Park on August 12, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. The White Sox defeated the Tigers 7-5. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Bryan Garcia emerged early in the season as one of the better options out of the pen and has continued to prove himself day in and day out.
Manager Ron Gardenhire showed confidence in Bryan Garcia using him in the 7th over Gregory Soto, who was warming up in the bullpen. He picked up his second save in the victory over the Cardinals this evening. He has currently pitched 17 1/3 innings this season with a 1.56 ERA.
In recent years the Tigers have had multiple great closers including Joe Nathan, K Rod, and Shane Greene. Joe Jimenez was great to start the season but has since had continued struggles even in low-pressure situations because of this Garcia has finally been given the opportunity to close and don’t be surprised he thrives in this role.
The closer role is not new to Garcia as he had 43 saves at the University of Miami, and 25 saves over his three seasons in the minor leagues. Bryan’s first career save came against the heavy-hitting Minnesota Twins, which is no easy task. In the first game of the 2 game series against the Brewers, Garcia came in with the Tigers up 8-3 with 2 outs in the top of the 9th but the bases were loaded. Being an extremely high-pressure situation to enter into Garcia delivered the final out giving the Tigers a big win for the playoff push.
The Tigers are inching closer and closer to the final wild-card spot which the Yankees currently hold. A good playoff team should have a good bullpen and a steady closer, Garcia can be that lights out closer for the Tigers. Cisnero or Farmer in the 7th, Soto in the 8th, and Garcia closing the door can be a winning formula down the stretch for the Tigers. Through all of these appearances this season there is no situation that appears to rattle him, Garcia stays calm and collected always. Only being 25 years old he looks to continue to close the door for the Tigers as they make a run at the playoffs.