Bullpen Notes

7/10

LAB REPORTS

By: The Lab

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Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/10)

BAL: Wells was off tonight after pitching back to back days. They used Rico Garcia in the 8th and after the starter gave up a home run that tied it he got three outs and picked up the win. In the 9th they went to Andrew Kittredge for the second night in a row and he allowed a double but protected the 5-3 lead picking up the save. With both guys converting saves we could end up with a two man group here. Kittredge is going to have tomorrow off since he has pitched back to back but it will be interesting to see who they use if both are available. Originally I had thought they would use Kittredge as the closer but they went with Wells. Feels like Wells might still have a slight edge but it is pretty much a toss up.

KCR: They were down until the 8th when they tied it up. Steven Cruz had pitched the 6th and Daniel Lynch had the 7th. Matt Strahm was brought in for the 8th and he allowed a single and a two run homer. He has no value for fantasy at this point but he still has a shot at getting traded since he is a LHP. Keep an eye on where he lands since he could become a holds option again.

PIT: No game today as it was rained out but they did acquire Brandon Eisert from the White Sox. Not really what they need but he was an add in piece. He is a LHP and has a 5.93 ERA. They really need a RHP but at least they appear willing to add to the bullpen so more moves will hopefully be on the way.

NYY: Fernando Cruz got them out of a jam in the 6th with a couple strikeouts and picked up a hold. Tim Hill got an out and allowed a couple homers that put the team down 3-2 and he was charged with a blown save. Jake Bird got the final two outs of the inning. David Bednar pitched the 8th and the 9th since the bullpen had been taxed yesterday in the bullpen game. He ended up picking up a win and the only base runner was one that he hit. Cruz is the holds guy and Bednar is the closer here.

WSN: This was one of the worst displays of bullpen management we have seen this season tonight. Newly called up Tom Cosgrove was used in the 8th with a 3-2 lead and put two of the three guys he faced on but got a double play. They brought on Clayton Beeter who threw seven pitches and got the final out. Both guys picked up holds and for some reason Beeter didn't return for the 9th. Matt Krook who was just claimed off waivers and has a nearly 15.00 ERA started the 9th with the same one run lead. He got an out, allowed a single, and a two run homer that put them down 4-3. Justin Lawrence was next in and he allowed a homer and loaded the bases before getting out of the inning with the team down 5-3. With Beeter only throwing seven pitches he could have pitched the 9th and both Poulin and Ribalta who were available could have as well as both guys have converted saves. Blake Butera should have a lot of questions to answer after this one.

CIN: Burke pitched the 8th with a 4-0 lead and allowed a hit while getting a couple of the top guys out. They went to Pagan in the 9th since he hadn't pitched in days. He struck out the side in what was a very impressive appearance. Pagan is the closer and he could end up getting moved but at the very least he needs to get some work in to prove that hamstring is healthy.

CLE: Erik Sabrowski started the 7th with a 3-1 lead and allowed a solo homer and a walk before getting pulled. Colin Holderman came in and allowed a single before getting the final two outs and both guys picked up holds. With a 3-2 lead Hunter Gaddis pitched the 8th and Cade Smith pitched the 9th. Gaddis allowed a hit and picked up a hold while Smith was perfect and picked up the save. Same story here as Sabrowski continues to struggle and at some point is going to be moved. Tim Herrin just went on the IL so they no longer have a LHP to pitch late. Gaddis and Smith are still top options for the holds in the 8th and saves in the 9th.

SEA: Jose A. Ferrer got roughed up in the 7th allowing three runs and getting an out. Eduard Bazardo had already pitched the 6th. Both guys were in when they were down and Seattle continues to struggle.

TBR: Cole Sulser came in with an out in the 6th and a 4-1 lead. He allowed a inherited runner to score but got the final two outs and picked up a hold. With the game 4-2 Garrett Cleavinger pitched the 7th and allowed a lead off single but got a hold. Kevin Kelly pitched the last two innings and just got outs as they had opened up a 7-2 lead. Good bullpen here with Cleavinger being the best guy for holds in my opinion.

ATH: The bullpen got beat like a drum before turning to a position player. Alvarado got through 5th and 6th and was perfect. He was crossing 100mhp on the gun while looking like the guy who should be closing. Down 4-1 in the 7th they brought on Justin Sterner who faced five batters all of which scored. Mason Barnett came on and gave up three more runs before getting out of the inning. The mess continues here and Harris remains the likely closer but I would think Alvarado has moved ahead of Barnett due to his last couple outings. Until they have a lead late no one will know.

HOU: Steven Okert pitched a perfect 7th inning with three strikeouts while the game was tied 3-3. They turned to Bryan King in the 8th and he allowed two homers and four runs that made the game 7-3 in a rare breakdown since returning to the 8th. I wouldn't worry too much about this since he has been so good. Hopefully tonight was just a rough outing.

TEX: As expected they used Chris Martin in a high leverage spot and it was not great. He pitched the 7th with a 3-1 lead and gave up a quick two run homer that tied it. He was charged with a blown save and didn't get out of the inning. Cole Winn finished the 7th and pitched the 8th against the meat of the lineup without issue picking up a win. They really need him to be good with Junis hurt. With a 7-3 lead in the 9th they used Tyler Alexander and he got a double play to get out of any potential trouble. They still need another high leverage arm as it does not appear that Chris Martin is a dependable option.

BOS: Tyron Guerrero pitched the 7th and allowed a couple hits but got a double play ball that prevented any runs from scoring. Garrett Whitlock pitched the 8th and let the first two guys on before getting out of the inning. The score was 4-1 for when both guys were in and they each picked up holds. They opened up the game to 6-1 and Greg Weissert pitched the 9th allowing just a run. Guerrero has been really good and is a cheap holds option though he is still behind Whitlock and Slaten. This team is playing its self into a buyer right now.

LAA: Samy Natera Jr. was the first one in during the 6th. They had a 4-1 lead at the time and he allowed a couple inherited runners to score. He came back for the 7th and let guys reach second and third before getting the last two outs and picking up a hold. Sam Bachman pitched the 8th and picked up a hold despite allowing a walk. That left the 9th for Kirby Yates who allowed a double and the last out was crushed to the first baseman who caught it to end the game. Yates faced the top of the lineup and the 9th hitter so he had the tougher guys. Right now he is the closer and they might just be trying boost his trade value by pitching the 9th.

TOR: Mason Fluharty got out of the 5th and picked up the win. They used Chad Dallas in the 6th, Jeff Hoffman in the 7th, and Tyler Rogers in the 8th all with a 5-2 lead. Dallas allowed the only guy to reach with a leadoff double and all three of them picked up a holds. Louis Varland came on for the 9th and he got a couple quick outs before allowing three straight singles that scored a run. He did get the final out to pick up the save. Right now this is what the bullpen should look like with Varland as one of the top closers in the game. They traded Tommy Nance to the Twins earlier in the day.

LAD: They went full bullpen game tonight with Kyle Hurt starting. I wouldn't look that much in to anything else here since everyone but Scott was used and they were down after the 4th inning. Hurt does appear to have fallen out of favor late so he is probably going to be a drop. Edgardo Henriquez and Alex Vesia are the best options for holds.

SFG: Dylan Smith shocked the world getting out of a bases loaded jam in the 6th that he inherited. Freshly activated Keaton Winn faced three batters in the 7th with the game tied but got pulled after allowing a single. Sam Hentges got the last out of the 7th and pitched the 8th allowing just a single. With a 2-1 lead they went to Caleb Kilian in the 9th and he was unable to get a batter out. The first four he faced reached and two runs scored before he was pulled for Erik Miller who allowed a sac fly that made it 4-2. Kilian isn't going to last in the 9th with performances like tonight. He might already be out. Smith is back to a lower leverage role with Winn back. Hentges keeps moving up in the bullpen. Miller and Winn would be the next options in the 9th if Kilian is replaced.

COL: Brennan Bernardino pitched the 6th without issue. Jimmy Herget got two outs in the 7th before allowing a run that put them down 2-1. Antonio Senzatela pitched a nice 8th inning and ended up with a win. They went into the 9th with a 4-2 lead and things got ugly for Jordan Romano as he struggled with his fastball control. He walked three guys allowed a single and a run scoring sac fly before being pulled with the bases loaded and the team up 4-3. Juan Mejia threw one pitch and got a grounder to end the game and he picked up a save. Romano probably hasn't lost the job quite yet but another bad outing should do him in. As we all know it will happen eventually. Mejia could be in the mix as well as Herget and Senzatela.

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