Bullpen Notes

7/12

LAB REPORTS

By: The Lab

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Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/12)

MIL: They got smoked and a lot of the damage was done to Jared Koenig. He faced five batters in the 4th and didn't get an out. All five scored. He was a decent late inning guy last year but this year he got hurt and hasn't been the same since.

KCR: Matt Strahm started the 6th and got an out while allowing five guys to reach. He was charged with a loss and all five guys scored. He is another high leverage guy from last year who has struggled since being hurt this year.

WSN: Part time starter Andrew Alvarez pitched in relief today. He was on for the 7th with the game tied a 2-2 and had no issues. In the 8th he returned with a 3-2 lead and after getting a couple outs allowed two guys to reach before giving up a two run triple. That made the game 4-3 and they brought him back in for the 9th and he allowed the first two guys to reach before being pulled for Justin Lawrence. Lawrence allowed one of those guys to score. The bullpen blew the lead in all three games this series and if they want to make a run they need to add high leverage arms. Beeter had the day off after pitching back to back days but he remains the best pitcher in the bullpen and is really more like a 7th inning guy.

NYY: They were missing both Bednar and Cruz today but were able to get the job done. Tim Hill continued to struggle allowing another homer in the 6th and being charged with a blown save. Angel Chivilli pitched in the 6th and 7th and allowed an unearned run that put them back down. Ryan Yarbrough picked up the win getting the final out of the 7th. Paul Blackburn pitched the 8th and 9th and was perfect in both picking up the save. This was a nice move up in leverage for him and he could end up finding himself pitching in the 7th more often and maybe getting some holds.

BOS: They used Brayan Bello for most of the bulk innings and he got them from the 4th to the 9th allowing just a run. They were down the whole time but scored two in the top of the 9th. They turned to Chapman who allowed a hit but got through the inning picking up a win. After scoring the ghost runner in the 10th they used Garrett Whitlock for the save chance and he kept the ghost runner from scoring while picking up his second save. That is 9 in a row for BOS and they are .5 out of the wildcard which means Chappy and Whit might not be on the market anymore.

NYM: Same old story as they choked away a late lead. Weaver was perfect in the 8th with the game 2-0 picking up a hold. In the 9th Devin Williams was charged with two runs. Williams allowed a lead off single and got a grounder that should have been a game ending double play but it was botched. After that he walked a run in and allowed another to score on a little looper. Brooks Raley allowed the ghost runner to score in the 10th and took the loss. After the game they said Williams job is safe and I believe it likely is. He is a risky guy to roster right now but it is hard to cut him. He could still be on the move at the deadline.

CIN: Been a minute since the bullpen blew a lead. Chase Petty pitched the 5th and 6th and allowed a runner to reach in the 7th and that guy would be the reason he ended up with a loss. Moll came on and got an out while letting two on and allowing the Petty run to score. Pierce Johnson was brought in to get the last out and allowed a three run homer. Emilio Pagán is the only guy I would roster in this bullpen right now and maybe if they start winning a holds option will emerge.

CHC: Gavin Hollowell got a couple outs in the 7th and 8th protecting the 8-4 lead. They tried to use Caleb Thielbar in the 9th but he put a couple guys on while getting one out. They turned to Jacob Webb who got the last two outs and picked up the save. Thornton was off today after going back to back days and while Webb is the best option for saves Thornton will pick up some scraps.

MIA: Full bullpen game here so not much to look into. They used all the top guys in no particular order until the 9th when Pete Fairbanks came in and allowed a run to make the score 5-1. It was just a solo homer so not the worst thing that could happen in a non-save situation. Fairbanks is the closer here unless they bring someone in or move him.

CLE: Another strong effort by the bullpen as they got through three innings while protecting a lead before turning to Cade Smith on the 9th. Franco Aleman, Hunter Gaddis, and Shawn Armstrong pitched the 6th, 7th, and 8th all picking up holds. They took a 5-1 lead but still used Cade Smith and he allowed a solo homer but got out of the non save situation. Great bullpen here and the top guys offer terrific value in their respective categories.

PHI: They were up 5-0 but they did use Orion Kerkering in the 8th so it was nice to see him get an inning in. No sign of Brad Keller who has only pitched once since his return from the IL earlier this week. Keep an eye on him though extra rest certainly isn't a bad thing.

SEA: They finally won a game and it was pretty much a bullpen game blowout. Jose A. Ferrer pitched in the 2nd and 3rd picking up a win. This is why I say don't worry about bullpen games since I believe if Muñoz went down Ferrer would become the closer and he pitched this early. Speier pitched the 6th without issue. Bazardo gave up their only two runs in the 8th while they had a 7-0 lead. Muñoz pitched the 9th to get some work in and had no issue. Still a good bullpen but they need to start winning some games for the guys to reach their full potential.

MIN: Andrew Morris pitched the 8th with a 3-2 lead and returned for the 9th with a 4-2 lead. In the 9th he got the first two outs before allowing a couple guys to reach. He did get the final out and picked up the save. This is the problem with the Twins as you would think Gomez would have seen the 9th but didn't. They remain a committee due to games like this with both Morris and Rogers in the mix for the occasional save when Gomez isn't used.

CWS: They won big but used Seranthony Domínguez in the 7th and he actually didn't allow a base runner. Hicks had already pitched in the 6th. Grant Taylor is the main option for saves but pitches multiple innings which should allow Sean Newcomb to see chances from time to time. He is generally a bulk guy as well so others might find there way into the mix.

ATL: Danny Young started the game and didn't make it though the 1st allowing a run. They went back to the bullpen guys in the 6th and Dylan Dodd faced three guys getting an out but loading the bases (starter left a runner on). Didier Fuentes came in and got an out but allowed a two run single that put them down 3-2. He was charged with a blown save while Dodd picked up a hold. Dylan Lee got the next five outs and was pulled in the 8th for Tyler Kinley who got the final out and the win. Raisel Iglesias was perfect in the 9th with a 4-3 lead picking up the save. Iggy and Lee are the main guys to roster until Suarez returns but with how good the team has been the Fuentes and Kinley offer some deep holds value.

STL: Justin Bruihl allowed a run in the 6th to make it a 3-1 deficit. Gordon Graceffo and Ryne Stanek got the final out of the 6th and though the 7th and 8th while the game was tied. In the 9th with the game still tied they turned to JoJo Romero. He let a couple on and got a couple out but got burned by an error that scored an unearned run. He would end up taking the loss. ROB is the closer and Romero is a good holds option though he has struggled for much of the last month plus.

HOU: They spent most of the game down and used a majority of their big name guys. Enyel De Los Santos pitched the 4th. Bryan Abreu allowed a run in the 5th. Steven Okert pitched the 6th. Bryan King pitched the 7th and they took a 5-4 lead and he allowed a homer in the 8th that tied it. They used Hader in the bottom of the 9th with the game tied and he allowed three singles with the last one scoring the game ending run. King has struggled the last couple outings so the break is probably just what he needs. Hader was pitching with the game tied so I am not concerned about him. They could still use a high leverage RHP since Abreu is giving them pretty much nothing.

TEX: Chris Martin went on the IL prior to the game so they pretty much just have rookies, Latz, and Alexander. Alexander pitched the 5th and 6th getting four outs without issue. Winn closed out the 6th picking up a hold. With a 4-1 lead they went with Robby Ahlstrom in the 7th and he got an out while allowing two men to reach. Peyton Gray came on and loaded the bases two different times allowing both Ahlstrom runs to score and one of his own. Gray was charged with a blown save and Ahlstrom picked up a hold. Ben Peoples pitched the 8th and he allowed a run that put them down 5-4. Jacob Latz picked up the win in the 9th pitching a perfect inning while they walked the game off in the bottom of the inning. Latz is great but they have big problems getting him the ball. If these rookies don't improve they will need to add and they might need to anyway.

COL: With the game tied Brennan Bernardino pitched the 6th and Jimmy Herget pitched the 7th. Both guys allowed a runner but had no major issues. Antonio Senzatela pitched the 8th and allowed a couple runs to score. He has really struggled with the game close. I still think Romano is the closer here but Juan Mejia might be back in the mix and I wouldn't want to roster anyone for saves or holds.

SFG: Keaton Winn got a couple outs in the 8th before walking a guy and getting pulled for Erik Miller. Miller got out of the 8th and pitched the 9th protecting the a new 3-1 run lead despite allowing a lead off walk. It feels like any of Winn, Miller, Kilian, and Hentges could end up being called on to get a save on any given night. I would think the two guys who pitched today are the two best options.

LAD: Edgardo Henriquez was charged with a blown save after allowing an unearned run in the 6th. He also allowed an inherited runner to score. He picked up the loss as well. Stewart, Scott, and Phillips got though the rest of the game with Phillips allowing a solo homer in the 9th that made the score 5-3. They wanted to get guys some work with the up coming break so seeing Scott in the 8th against the top of the order is not concerning.

ARI: The bullpen pitched well here pitching the final six innings without allowing a run. Taylor Clarke pitched the 4th and got an out in the 5th without issue. Ryan Thompson got the next three outs picking up the win. Kevin Ginkel picked up a hold getting the last two outs of the 6th. Jonathan Loáisiga and Juan Morillo pitched the 7th and 8th and both picked up holds. Paul Sewald pitched a perfect 9th and picked up the save. Sewald has been great in save situations and the rest of the bullpen has had a lot of success. It will be interesting to see if this team ends up buying or selling because they have a lot of upcoming free agents in the bullpen.

TOR: Tyler Rogers pitched the 7th and allowed a runner to reach on an error. The game was tied at the time. In the 8th with a 4-3 lead they turned to Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman sucked like he normally does with a lead. He allowed a couple singles to start that tied the game and guys were running all over the bases on him. The go ahead run came in on a sacrifice fly. He was charged with a blown save and a loss. They might end up trading him or they might not but they need to find a better option for high leverage situations.

SDP: Ron Marinaccio and Kyle Hart got through the 5th and 6th innings. Adrian Morejon pitched the 7th with the game tied and came back out for the 8th but allowed a run that put them down 4-3. He ended up picking up a win after they rallied. Mason Miller closed out the game with a perfect 9th inning striking out one. He remains the top closer in the game and this will be another team that needs to decide if they are buying or selling in a couple weeks.

That concludes the 1st half of the season. Follow me @GettheSave9th and check out my bullpen usage chart

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