While all the Blue Jays fans at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night went home happy, there was one person in the building probably more frustrated than anyone else: Zach Britton.
Britton, a lefty closer for the Orioles, was not used at all by manager Buck Showalter during the AL wild card game between the Jays and O’s despite being the most dominant reliever in the majors all season.
Even after Ubaldo Jimenez gave up consecutive hits to start the bottom of the 11th, Showalter did not make a pitching change and bring in his closer. Watching it all fold was “frustrating” for Britton.
Zach Britton says he felt fine and was ready to go. Just never got used. Says watching the final inning was "frustrating."
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) October 5, 2016
Orioles closer Zach Britton: "It was just frustrating to have to sit down there and watch and not be able to help the team.”
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) October 5, 2016
Britton posted a 0.54 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 67 innings of pure dominance this season. He had only allowed one run since June 22nd. Just one. And he never got a chance to pitch in the do-or-die playoff game, while Jimenez surrendered a 3-run walk-off home run.
Here was Showalter’s explanation for not using Britton. Showalter won’t soon live this down.
