Kenley Jansen wins NL reliever of the month for August

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was named the National League reliever of the month for August, the second time he has won the award.

Jansen had a 1.54 and 2.29 FIP in 13 appearances in August, with 19 strikeouts and four walks in 11⅔ innings. He was tied for 15th in the National League in ERA for the month, 20th in FIP, and fifth in strikeout rate (43.2%).

“He continues to get better. The stuff, the characteristics, there’s more consistency with that. The command has been better, the pace on the mound,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “It’s good for Kenley to have that success and be named reliever of the month. That’s great, and it’s good for the Dodgers.”

He also led the NL with eight saves during the month, which carries some weight for this award. The reliever of the month award started in 2017, and 33 of the 38 awards have gone to closers. Jansen’s previous NL reliever of the month was in June 2017.

Jansen’s month was excellent, and it’s a testament to how good the Dodgers bullpen has been that Caleb Ferguson (0.93 ERA, 2.01 FIP, 38.5-percent K rate), Dylan Floro (0.75 ERA, 1.90 FIP), and Blake Treinen (1.59 ERA, 2.53 FIP) were roughly as good.

The Dodgers bullpen was second in the majors in August in ERA (2.35) and FIP (3.27), and fifth in K-BB% (18.5%).

It was the 14th calendar month in Jansen’s career that he posted a sub-2.00 ERA with at least seven saves. His save Tuesday night tied passed Goose Gossage and tied Tom Henke for 24th all-time with 311 career saves.