Who was the Texas Rangers’ most effective reliever against left-handers in 2016?
Left-hander Jake Diekman? Maybe Matt Bush or Sam Dyson?
Nope. It was lefty Alex Claudio, who held left-handed hitters to a .177 batting average with a 2.65 ERA.
Claudio, who turns 25 today, pitched a career-high 51 2/3 innings in ‘16. His role in the bullpen could grow in 2017 with Diekman out for at least the first half of the season after undergoing surgery for ulcerative colitis.
Alex Claudio working down keeps Rangers up
Alex Claudio pitched four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Rangers' win.