Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Cody Allen has been voted American League Reliever of the Month presented by The Hartford for April, and Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Greg Holland has been voted National League Reliever of the Month presented by The Hartford for the opening month. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Allen pitched in 10 games in April for the Indians, converting each of his six save opportunities and striking out 20 opposing batters. Cody allowed just one walk, did not surrender a home run and finished the month with a 0.90 ERA over 10.0 innings pitched to claim his first career monthly award. The six-year veteran began his 2017 season in historic fashion after closing out each of Cleveland's first two victories. Allen became the first pitcher in MLB history to record a save and log three strikeouts in each of his team's first two games of a season (since saves became an official statistic in 1969). On April 26th vs. Houston, the 28-year-old recorded his first four-out save of the season. For his career, the right-hander has registered a 0.77 ERA in save chances longer than an inning, converting 14-of-17 opportunities. Following his sixth save of the season on April 29th vs. Seattle, the Orlando, Florida native now ranks fifth in career saves in Indians history (98), trailing only Jose Mesa (104), Chris Perez (124), Doug Jones (129) and Bob Wickman (139). Allen, who has posted an ERA under 3.00 in each of his last four seasons, enters play today in the midst of an eight-game scoreless streak. In his remarkable month, Cody logged multi-strikeout efforts in eight of his 10 appearances, and currently sits in second among AL relievers in strikeout rate (18.00 K/9). Led by their closer's excellent month, along with teammate Andrew Miller, who did not allow a run over 11.2 innings, the Indians bullpen finished the month of April with the second-lowest ERA (2.25) and fourth-highest strikeout rate (10.32 K/9) in the AL. Cleveland enters play today with a 14-12 record and sits 0.5 games back of the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.
Craig Kimbrel (1-0, 1.59 ERA, 8 SV, 20 SO) of the Boston Red Sox had an excellent month as well. The five-time All-Star has now converted each of his 24 career save opportunities at Fenway Park, trailing only Tom Gordon (29 SV, 1998-99) for the franchise record. Entering play today, Kimbrel leads all AL relievers with nine saves. Others receiving votes for AL Reliever of the Month included Brandon Kintzler (0.79 ERA, 7 SV, 11.1 IP, 6 SO) of the Minnesota Twins; Chris Devenski (2.16 ERA, 16.2 IP, 32 SO) of the Houston Astros; Jose Leclerc (0.90 ERA, 10.0 IP, 16 SO) of the Texas Rangers; Tommy Kahnle (1.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 19 SO) and Anthony Swarzak (2-0, 12.1 IP, 14 SO, 0.00 ERA) of the White Sox; and Brad Brach (1.93 ERA, 14.0 IP, 4 SV, 16 SO) of the Baltimore Orioles.
Holland was perfect in save opportunities, collecting his Major League-leading 11 saves in 12 games over 12.0 innings pitched en route to earning his third career monthly honor, having won Delivery Man of the Month in July and September of the 2013 season. The seven-year veteran posted a 1.50 ERA, while striking out 13 batters and issuing just five free passes. Holland began his tenure with the Rockies in notable fashion, becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to convert saves in the first two games of the season. The right-hander had not previously pitched since September 18, 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2016 season. A two-time AL All-Star for the Kansas City Royals (2013-14), Greg began the 2017 campaign with a seven game scoreless streak, allowing just two hits and three walks, while striking out nine batters. With his 11th save on Saturday in a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, the Western Carolina University product established a new franchise record for saves in the month of April. His 11 saves matched the record for most saves in a single calendar month in club history, set by Brian Fuentes (May 2007) and Huston Street (June 2009). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other pitcher to save as many games by the end of April in his inaugural season with a team was Lee Smith, who converted 12 saves for the Baltimore Orioles in 1994. Holland, the recipient of the inaugural Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award in 2014, converted saves in each of his first nine appearances for Colorado before pitching in a non-save situation on April 24th against the Washington Nationals. The 31-year-old tied Darren Holmes, who converted nine saves in nine games from August 8-28, 1993 for the franchise record for saves in consecutive appearances.
Others receiving votes for NL Reliever of the Month included Kenley Jansen (1-0, 1.86 ERA, 7 SV, 17 SO) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Wade Davis (2-0, 6 SV, 0.00 ERA, 12 SO) and Carl Edwards Jr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 SO, 10.0 IP) of the Chicago Cubs; Tony Watson (0.96 ERA, 7 SV, 9.1 IP) of the Pittsburgh Pirates; Hansel Robles (4-0, 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 17 SO) of the New York Mets; Archie Bradley (1-0, 1.13 ERA, 16.0 IP, 19 SO) of the Diamondbacks; and Greg's teammate Adam Ottavino (1.42 ERA, 12.2 IP, 15 SO).
The American League Reliever of the Month presented by The Hartford, Cody Allen, and the National League Reliever of the Month presented by the Hartford, Greg Holland, will each receive a specially designed plaque, suitably engraved, for their accomplishments. This is the inaugural season of the Reliever of the Month Awards presented by The Hartford. The Hartford, the Official Business Insurance & Employee Benefits Sponsor of MLB, has presented baseball's annual Relievers of the Year Awards since 2015. The 2017 Relievers of the Year presented by The Hartford will again be presented during the World Series.