Jansen (1-3) gave up a hit and struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, recording his 12th save of the season, but he then gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in the second game to get tagged with the loss.
All told, the veteran closer tossed 43 pitches (26 strikes) across both games, so Jansen will likely be unavailable for a couple days to recuperate should Boston have any late leads to protect. The right-hander has been a solid addition to the Red Sox bullpen this season, posting a 3.86 ERA and 22:12 K:BB through 18.2 innings while converting 12 of 15 save chances, but the team's lack of reliable high-leverage options to support him is beginning to take its toll -- Jansen's allowed multiple runs in three of his last eight appearances.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Notches save Saturday
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Jansen earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Jansen got the call to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning and retired Arizona in order on 13 pitches. The veteran closer posted his third straight scoreless outing -- two of which have resulted in a save -- following a troubling pair of appearances in mid-May during which he blew two saves and allowed six runs (five earned) across one inning. Those two blowups have Jansen's ERA at 3.45 on the campaign, but he's kept the opponent off the scoreboard in 14 of his 17 outings overall.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Records 10th save
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Jansen walked two and struck out none in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Padres.
Jansen made things a bit interesting with lackluster control, but he was able to work out of his own mess. He hadn't pitched in a week since taking a pair of blown saves versus the Cardinals last weekend. The 35-year-old closer is at a 3.95 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB through 13.2 innings this season while converting 10 of his 13 save chances. He's had some trouble adjusting to the pitch clock, and it's showing up in his elevated walk rate, but the Red Sox have yet to consider turning to a closing committee.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Charged with clock violations
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Jansen was charged with three pitch-clock violations (one warning) during the ninth inning of Saturday's 4-3 loss to St. Louis.
The violations contributed to Jansen blowing his second save in as many days. One of those violations resulted in ball four and put runners on first and second with none out. Jansen started his move to home plate before Willson Contreras, who was waiting for the clock to tick down to eight seconds, had his second foot in the box, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. "That's nothing against them, but I have to take advantage of the clock a little bit, especially in those situations where we're looking to create a rally," Contreras explained. "He's been struggling since last night throwing strikes, so I was just getting him upset a little bit, and it was nothing disrespectful." Jansen, who threw just eight strikes among his 17 pitches, vowed to learn from the experience.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Blows another save
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Jansen (1-2) blew the save and took the loss Saturday against the Cardinals. He allowed three runs on one hit and three walks with no strikeouts over one inning.
Jansen failed to convert a save opportunity for the second straight game, giving up three runs and three walks in the top of the ninth after Chris Sale handed him a 3-1 lead. The typically reliable closer has been off his game recently, giving up six runs over his last two appearances and blowing three of his last six save chances. However, given his pedigree and track record of ninth inning success, Jansen's job appears to be safe, though the Red Sox could give other relievers some closing looks if his struggles continue.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Crumbles in ninth
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Jansen (1-1) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk without recording an out in Friday's loss to St. Louis. He was charged with a blown save and a loss.
Jansen entered the ninth inning protecting a 6-5 lead, and the Cardinals jumped on him immediately. After Lars Nootbaar tied the game with an RBI single, Jansen served up a go-ahead, two-run shot to Nolan Gorman. Jansen had allowed just one run through 11.2 innings before Friday's meltdown caused his ERA to jump to 3.09. After converting his first six save chances, he's blown two of his last five.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Secures 400th career save
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Jansen allowed a hit and struck out one in one inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Atlanta.
Jansen reached the 400-save mark for his career by successfully protecting a three-run lead Wednesday. It was his ninth save in 10 chances this season. The right-hander's been charged with a run only once in 12 outings, which came in a blown save versus the Guardians on April 29. Jansen owns a 0.77 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB over 11.2 innings this season.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Collects 399th career save
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Jansen allowed one hit and struck out one batter in a scoreless inning against the Phillies on Saturday to earn a save.
Jansen appears to be past a back injury that sidelined him late last week and into the beginning of this week, as he pitched for the second straight day Saturday. The veteran closer was sharp against Philadelphia, throwing 11 of 14 pitches for a strike and allowing just an infield single. Jansen has been dominant in his first season with Boston, allowing only one earned run and posting a 16:4 K:BB over 10.2 innings while converting eight of nine save chances. He's now at 399 saves for his career -- with his next one, he'll become the seventh pitcher in MLB history to reach 400.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Strikes out side in ninth
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Jansen picked up the save in Friday's 5-3 victory over Philadelphia, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three.
Jansen, who's been battling back tightness, entered with a two-run lead and struck out Bryson Stott to begin the frame before giving up a single to Edmundo Sosa and walking Brandon Marsh. After allowing the tying run to reach base, the veteran locked in and got Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to strike out swinging to end the game. It was Jansen's first appearance since blowing a save April 29 versus Cleveland, and he is now 7-for-8 in save chances while sporting a 0.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB through 10 appearances (9.2 innings).
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Available to pitch Thursday
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Jansen (back) is available out of the Red Sox' bullpen for Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Jansen hasn't pitched since Saturday due to back tightness, but he made it through a bullpen session Wednesday with no issues and is ready to roll. The veteran closer has six saves, a 1.04 ERA and a 12:2 K:BB through nine outings this season.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Likely available Thursday
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Jansen (back) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Assuming he bounces back well, the closer is expected to be available to pitch in Thursday's series finale against the Blue Jays. Jansen hasn't made an appearance since Saturday due to back tightness.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Unavailable Tuesday
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Jansen (back) is not expected to be available to pitch Tuesday versus the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora had indicated that Jansen was available to pitch Monday, but that apparently wasn't the case and he's expected to be off limits Tuesday, too. The closer hasn't pitched since Saturday due to back tightness. Chris Martin or John Schreiber could see a save chance if one presents itself Tuesday.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Cleared for Monday
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said prior to Monday's game against the Blue Jays that Jansen (back) will be available out of the bullpen, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Jansen wasn't an option out of the bullpen for Sunday's 7-1 win over Cleveland after he experienced back tightness in his appearance one night earlier, but the lone day off was apparently all the right-hander needed to overcome the injury. The 35-year-old right-hander has looked sharp over his first nine appearances out of the Boston bullpen, striking out 12 and allowing just one run over 8.2 innings while converting six of seven save chances.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Unavailable Sunday
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Jansen will not be available to pitch Sunday due to back tightness, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Jansen pitched through a back issue that cropped up prior to Saturday's game and was visited by training staff during the ninth inning. "He'll be down tomorrow," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "Hopefully, he'll be back on Monday." If a save situation arises Sunday, Cora could use a returning Chris Martin (shoulder), who's expected to come off the IL before the game, while lefty Richard Bleier and righty John Schreiber are also available. Ryan Brasier, who picked up a save earlier this season, is also an option, but the right-hander threw 21 pitches Saturday and has allowed eight runs over his last 4.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Feels back tightness in ninth
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Jansen was visited by trainers due to back stiffness in his appearance against the Guardians on Saturday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. He allowed one run on three hits while blowing his first save of the season with no walks and a strikeout.
Jansen was visited by the trainers in the ninth inning, and while he was able to continue in the outing, it clearly was bothering the right-hander. Jansen threw 29 pitches in his outing Saturday, so he likely won't be an option for the Boston bullpen regardless of how his back feels Sunday. John Schreiber seems like the best bet to get a save opportunity in games Jansen is unavailable.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Notches sixth save
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Jansen picked up his sixth save of the season in Tuesday's 8-6 win over the Orioles, recording the final two outs in the ninth inning.
The Red Sox came into the final frame with an 8-1 lead, but after Kaleb Ort made a mess of things, Jansen had to come in and put out the fire. The veteran closer is a perfect 6-for-6 in converting save chances to begin the year and he has yet to allow a run in 7.2 innings with an 11:2 K:BB, and Jansen's cutter is even averaging a career-high 94.8 mph. Despite offseason concerns about declining performance, it appears the 35-year-old has plenty left in the tank as he marches toward 400 career saves.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Converts fifth save
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Jansen picked up the save in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Brewers. He didn't allow a hit or a walk while picking up two strikeouts.
Jansen is off to an incredible start to 2023. He has not allowed a run in seven innings and has five saves and one win in his seven outings. Jansen fanned the first two hitters he faced Friday and now has a 11:2 K:BB and a sparkling 0.86 WHIP on the season.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Pitches perfect ninth
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Jansen picked up the save during Saturday's 9-7 win over the Angels, tossing a perfect ninth inning with zero strikeouts.
Jansen came on with a two-run lead and retired Anthony Rendon, Hunter Renfroe and Gio Urshela in order on seven pitches. Jansen has now converted four consecutive save opportunities and has yet to allow a run over five appearances.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Strikes out side in ninth
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Jansen picked up the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Angels, allowing one hit and striking out three during a scoreless ninth inning.
Jansen came on with a two-run lead and struck out Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani before surrendering a two-out single to Anthony Rendon. The veteran right-hander proceeded to strike out Hunter Renfroe to end the game and earn his third save of the season. Jansen has allowed zero runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven through four appearances.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Picks up another save
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Jansen picked up the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Tigers. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Jansen entered Sunday's matchup with the Red Sox holding a three-run lead in the ninth inning, but he got into a bases-loaded jam with one out. However, he forced a flyout before recording a strikeout to end the game and pick up his second save of the year. The Red Sox aren't predicted to be especially strong this season, but Jansen should have plenty of job security as the team's closer.
