If Danny Salazar is able to pitch in the American League Division Series out of the bullpen, he’ll do so with a refined pitch repertoire.
For the purposes of that role in the ALDS and possibly further into October, Salazar is ditching his curveball and only throwing his fastball and split-changeup. Throwing the curveball isn’t good on his strained forearm, and if he’s only working an inning or two out of the bullpen, having the third pitch to keep hitters honest throughout a start isn’t as necessary as when he’s starting.
His third pitch also hasn’t been used much this season.