Otero figures to play key role in ALDS
OAKLAND -- While much of the focus on the A's American League Division Series with the Tigers remains on the teams' stacked starting staffs, these games are surely about to magnify the importance of the bullpens, too.
Advantage: Oakland.
That's not just because one of the league's best closers in Grant Balfour is joined by two of the league's best setup men in southpaw Sean Doolittle and righty Ryan Cook. Right-handed rookie Dan Otero is another big weapon and figures to be a significant piece in his first postseason.
In fact, manager Bob Melvin has no problem including Otero, a quiet waiver claim in March, in any conversation about his setup men. And given his recent numbers -- he didn't allow a run over his final seven regular-season appearances -- Melvin might be more inclined in a big, late-inning situation to go with Otero over Cook.
"He's gotten lefties out; he's gotten righties out," Melvin said of Otero on Friday afternoon before Game 1. "You look at his numbers, his ERA, and everything, he's put himself in this position to be a guy that we rely on, whether it's one-plus inning in an even game, whether somebody has a day off and he pitches the seventh, bring him in with guys on base with the sinker. He's pitched himself into this role, and I do consider him one of those guys, as far as setup goes."
Otero appeared in 33 games for the A's after being promoted from Triple-A Sacramento on June 14. In that time, the righty gathered a 1.38 ERA, not once allowing a home run in 39 innings. He struck out 27 and walked just six.
In comparison, the Tigers have Al Alburquerque and Drew Smyly bridging the gap to closer Joaquin Benoit. Past that, they're rather thin, and the bullpen compiled a 4.01 ERA, which ranked fourth from the bottom in the AL. Oakland's relievers, meanwhile, posted a 3.22 ERA, good for third-best in the league.