Bullpen Notes
7/9
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/9)
ATL: The game was close until the 9th when they blew it open. They stayed away from Lee and Fuentes today so when you check the box score don't look to much into it. Ritchie, Young, and Karinchak all picked up holds. They're low leverage guys with Young being the most interesting one to keep an eye on.
PIT: The bullpen had some ups and downs today. Cam Sanders started the 4th and allowed three runs before getting pulled for Hunter Stratton. Stratton, Ramirez, and Soto got the game to the 9th without allowing a run. Soto pitched the 8th. They keep going to the Dennis Santana and today he gave up four runs. The game went from 6-5 to 10-5 and put an end to any rally. Santana keeps struggling and they desperately need a RHP for late in the game. You can cut Santana as he has no fantasy value right now and Monty and Soto should be the guys who get save chances.
NYM: Devin Williams pitched the 9th with a 7-3 lead. I still don't think he has lost the 9th but Weaver was up yesterday. An extra day off does make sense but this is a situation to keep an eye on when they finally get another save chance.
NYY: Bullpen day today and Yankee Twitter darling Paul Blackburn started it. There has been clamoring for him to see more high leverage spots but they really haven't used him for those yet. Everyone in the bullpen besides Bednar and Cruz pitched and they won big.
CHC: Not a great day late for the bullpen. It has been taxed the last couple days and was without Webb and Thornton who are the top two guys. Hollowell and Thielbar got the game to the 8th each pitching while it was tied. Tyler Ferguson started the 8th and struck out a batter before hitting the next two and getting pulled. They went Ryan Rolison who allowed a double to the first guy he faced which scored both of Ferguson's runs. Ferguson was charged with a hold and a loss and Rolison was charged with a blown save. Webb is the closer and Thornton is next in line.
BAL: Yennier Cano pitched the 7th with the game tied. Tyler Wells pitched the 8th and allowed a run against the top of the lineup. He picked up a win after they rallied. Andrew Kittredge had the 9th after and error and hit got out of the inning picking up his second save of the season. Still feels like Wells is option one but like some teams do they use the top guy in the biggest spot and today it was the 8th inning. Kittredge could see chances from time to time in clean up spots.
CLE: They bounced back from yesterdays bullpen loss with a couple good innings today. Hunter Gaddis pitched a perfect 8th picking up a hold and Cade Smith pitched the 9th picking up the save. They got though the top of the order and both guys are great choices for their roles.
CWS: Some positive news for the bullpen in a loss. They were down 2-1 and used Hicks in the 6th and 7th. Grant Taylor pitched the 8th but only pitched one inning which should mean he will be available tomorrow if they need him late in the game. For me it is Taylor and Newcomb as the closers here with Taylor likely being the first up.
BOS: Tyron Guerrero pitched in the 5th and allowed an inherited runner to score making it 2-1. He also pitched the 6th and picked up a win. They turned to Garrett Whitlock in the 7th and he had no trouble against 9, 1, and 2 picking up a hold. Justin Slaten picked up a hold pitching a perfect 8th. That left the 9th for Aroldis Chapman and he was perfect as well. Boston is red hot right now and climbing in the standings which could end up taking the top closer Chapman off the market and a very good high leverage pitcher in Whitlock as well.
MIA: John King went on the IL prior to the game after spraining an ankle. That leaves them with one LHP and makes that an immediate need that they might look to fill at the deadline. They were up most of the game but William Kempner ran into trouble in the 8th. He was charged with two quick runs and let a couple more on forcing Calvin Faucher into the game. He got out of it and picked up a hold.
ATH: Still no need to look into the usage here as they lost again. Medina pitched in the 5th and 6th and didn't allow a run and Harris pitched in the 7th and allowed a run. Until they have a late lead these guys will pitch all over just to get some innings in. I think Harris is closer but this is a bullpen to avoid right now.
DET: Kyle Finnegan allowed a leadoff single in the 8th but got a double play and picked up a hold. They turned to closer Kenley Jansen for the 9th and he ran into some trouble forcing them to get someone up but he got it together and got out of the inning. He really got lucky as they crushed a couple line drives that just went right at infielders. Kenley remains the closer and just like BOS they are on fire right now so chances are becoming more common.
PHI: They used Jonathan Bowlan in the 8th with the score 1-0 and he pitched a perfect inning picking up a hold. In the 9th Jhoan Duran put a couple guys on but ultimately got out of it striking out a couple batters to pick up the save. Interesting to not see Kerkering in the 8th but he did have a rough inning the other day. Keller had pitched yesterday so his absence was expected. Those three should make up one of the better groups late in the game.
MIL: They used Patrick, Ashby, and Uribe to get through this one. They did extend the lead in the 8th to 8-4 so that is why Uribe pitched the 9th. Ashby ended up picking up a hold in the 8th despite allowing a couple guys to reach. We know how many wins he has but now he is up to seven holds as well which is making him very valuable.
LAA: They were down until the 7th inning and used Silseth in the 5th and Suter in the 6th with Suter giving up a run. After tying the game at 6-6 Ryan Zeferjahn pitched a perfect 7th and Sam Bachman pitched a perfect 8th. Kirby Yates was in for the 9th and allowed a single, sacrifice bunt, and game ending single. This is pretty much the same old story as earlier in the season when they removed Yates from the 9th. Bachman might be able to make the move back into the 9th but since the game was tied maybe Yates gets another pass.
TEX: Peyton Gray was the first man in for the 7th with a couple guys on and he quickly loaded the bases and allowed both inherited runners to score. He gave up another single that scored one of his runs and got pulled from the game for Tyler Alexander who allowed a Gray run to score and got out of the inning with the game tied. He was charged with a blown save and the game was tied at 6-6. They brought on Latz for the 8th and 9th but he couldn't get through the 9th. He put a couple guys on and had thrown 41 pitches before getting pulled for Cole Winn who got the final out and ended up getting the win. This team needs help in high leverage situations even when Junis returns. They really don't have a reliable option prior to Latz who closes right now.
ARI: Kevin Ginkel pitched a perfect 8th picking up a hold. Paul Sewald pitched a perfect 9th with a couple strikeouts picking up the save. I have been saying for some time that Ginkel is the 8th inning guy here so if you want someone who is likely available for holds add him. Sewald continues to be a good closer and his high ERA has more to do with a couple rough non-save outings.
SFG: The game was close until they dropped four in the 8th to make it 8-2. Erik Miller pitched the 8th and picked up a hold. They turned to Kilian in the 9th and while I had the COL broadcast on and they mentioned he was 8/10 in save chances but had an ERA over 11 in those games. Obviously he has had some brutal blowups which we all are aware off. Kilian allowed a couple runners but got out of the inning without any runs. He is the closer here despite that ERA in save chances.
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