The Los Angeles Dodgers demoted Javy Guerra from the closer role on Monday, after the right-hander blew his third save of the season Sunday in Chicago. Kenley Jansen will now close games for the Dodgers.
Guerra has allowed at least one run in four of his last five outings, a span that included two blown saves, one other loss, and another tie game in which he allowed two runs. Manager Don Mattingly met with Guerra Monday afternoon to deliver the news.
"I felt good about Colorado. He was able to close that one out, and get CarGo on a big punchout to end the game. I thought that had a chance to build that confidence and get over the hump," Mattingly said, referring to Guerra's save last Tuesday in against the Rockies at Coors Field. "It's just been too much. The uncertainty of it really tells me I have to make that move."
Jansen is tied for the major league lead with 16 appearances and no reliever in baseball has struck out more than the 27 by Jansen.
"He's going to get the first shot at it," Mattingly said of Jansen. "I've known all along that Kenley with his strikeouts profiles as that kind of guy."
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