Daily Dodger in Review: J.P. Howell, the one reliable middle reliever

J.P. HOWELL, 32 in April, relief pitcher.

Final 2014 stats: 2.39 earned-run average and 3-3 in 68 games, with a 1.14 WHIP, .183 batting average, team-high 27 holds and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Contract status: Second of two-year deal at $4 million; third-year option at $6.25 million with $250,000 buyout that becomes player option with 65 appearances, or 120 total appearances for 2014-15.

The good: For almost the entire season, was the team’s most reliable reliever who wasn’t closer Kenley Jansen. Not that he had a lot of competition for that title. He was not only effective against left-handers (.170 batting average) but right-handed hitters (.198) as well.

In 33 games from May 9 to Aug. 6, posted a stunning 0.35 ERA, allowing one run in 25 2/3 innings. Batters hit .185 against him with runners in scoring position.

The bad: Much like fellow left-handed reliever Paco Rodriguez the previous year, appeared to hit the wall in the season’s final moments. In his last seven games (three in the postseason), he had a 15.19 ERA. Gave up two-run homer to Matt Carpenter in Game 2 of the division series against Cards.

What’s next: Hopefully a return to the form that make him so impressive throughout almost the entire season. The Dodgers don’t need three fingers to really count their reliable relievers last season and can hardly afford Howell continuing his late-season swoon.

The take: The easy explanation for why Howell ran out of gas is to say he was used too much; his 68 appearances tied for the team lead. But Howell actually faced 47 fewer batters than he did the previous season (246).

Still, until the end, he was the one middle reliever the Dodgers could count on last season. It would help the cause he if wasn’t the only left-handed reliever in the bullpen, as he was for most of 2014. The Dodgers need him to be effective, plus he first found success pitching for Andrew Friedman and the Tampa Rays, so he certainly isn’t going anywhere.