3 Options for Josh Winder in the Second Half

Minnesota’s pitching staff will need an upgrade for the stretch run. Some injured players are scheduled to return, but the team can also be creative with current players on the roster. Josh Winder has shown plenty of positive signs this season, but the team may need to adjust his usage down the stretch. Here are the three options the club is facing, including pros and cons. 

Continue Starting
Winder has been strong when asked to start games. He has limited opponents to a .630 OPS in five starts while posting a 1.71 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. While those numbers look great, he has posted a 7.2 K/9 rate, which is acceptable compared to his overall results. His hard-hit % and barrel % rank in the 67th percentile or higher as opponents struggle to make consistent contact. Currently, Winder is filling the rotation spot vacated by Chris Archer, and Bailey Ober is inching closer to a return. If Minnesota wants to keep Winder stretched out, it allows some other starting pitchers to get more regular rest in the second half. It also doesn’t seem likely for Winder to be in the team’s playoff starting rotation, but one of the roles below may be a better fit for the stretch run. 

Long Relief Role
Minnesota started Winder in a long-relief role to start the 2022 campaign because he impressed the club during spring training. For the season, he has made four relief appearances, but he’s only pitched 14 innings. He has allowed nine earned runs (including three home runs) with a 6-to-5 strikeout to walk ratio in four appearances. Opponents have gotten on base nearly 35% of the time with a .500 slugging percentage. He’s done poorly in this role, but it’s a small sample size, and he hasn’t had much previous experience in this type of role. If the team went in this direction, it would allow Winder to stay stretched out and help the team eat innings. 

Late-Inning Bullpen Option
Nearly every fan has been clamoring for the front office to fix the bullpen. While Winder might not be an immediate fix, it’s intriguing to consider what he may be able to offer in one to two-inning appearances. Minnesota has seen fellow rookies Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax succeed in the transition to the bullpen, and Winder might be able to follow their stylistic changes. Typically, pitchers can see an uptick in velocity when asked to throw fewer pitches, and this helps to make their secondary pitches even more effective. Also, Winder is likely on an innings limit for the season after dealing with shoulder problems in 2021 and missing time this year with a similar injury. Last season, he was limited to 72 innings, and he has already accumulated nearly 50 innings this season. 

It’s hard to know what the team’s needs will be in the coming weeks, and Winder’s role can be adjusted as the team maps out the season’s remaining games. He will continue starting games through July, but a shift to the bullpen seems like a no-brainer in the second half. 

What role do you feel will be best for Winder? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.