Bullpen Notes
7/17
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/17)
BOS: Game one was a blowout but Alec Gamboa picked up a three inning save. I believe he was the extra guy for the double header. Game 2 saw pretty much all of the top guys in the bullpen get deployed. Greg Weissert picked up the win pitching in the 3rd. Jovani Moran picked up a hold pitching the 4th and 5th. Tyron Guerrero had the 6th and Garrett Whitlock had the 7th with each allowing a hit but both picking up holds. Justin Slaten pitched a perfect 8th picking up a hold. Aroldis Chapman took the 9th picking up a save, striking out two, and not allowing a runner to reach. That is 11 wins in a row and they are back to .500. If they don't end up trading guys Guerrero will lose some of his sleeper holds value. Slaten, Whitlock and Chapman are all valuable pieces for holds and saves.
LAD: Jack Dreyer got an out in the 6th and pitched the 7th picking up a win. With a couple LHB coming up in the 8th they turned to Alex Vesia and he loaded the base before getting another LHB to fly out. He picked up a hold. Tanner Scott pitched a perfect 9th picking up a save. Scott will be the closer for about another week or so and then he probably moves into the 8th. He has proven he can get all batters out so that probably hurts the rest of the bullpen equally. Vesia and all the RHPs would become 6th or 7th inning hold options.
MIL: The bullpen logged all their innings with the score 1-1. Patrick had the 6th, Ashby had the 7th, Uribe had the 8th, and Megill had the 9th. Every single guy allowed a one out hit and every guy got out of the inning with no other issues. Craig Yoho pitched the 10th and didn't allow the ghost runner to score while picking up a win. This is how the bullpen should line up when they have a lead and all the guys are available.
MIA: They also had all of the key bullpen pitchers in the game with the score 1-1. Faucher pitched the 7th, Petersen pitched the 8th and Fairbanks pitched the 9th. Both Petersen and Fairbanks allowed two runners with two outs but ultimately got out of their innings. They turned to Lake Bachar for the 10th and he got two outs, allowed a walk, and allowed the ghost runner to score and end the game. This is how I expect the bullpen to set up when they have a lead as well.
CHC: Drew Pomeranz had another rough outing. This time three of four reached and one scored. He could be getting DFA'd soon as he seems to be cooked.
MIN: Tommy Nance struggled to get two outs in the 6th allowing an inherited runner to score and letting two reach but he did get though it and got two outs in the 7th picking up a hold. with a 5-2 lead they used Taylor Rogers to get the LHB out and end the 7th. He picked up a hold. Andrew Morris pitched a perfect 8th picking up a hold. Yoendrys Gomez had the 9th and picked up the save after allowing a lead off walk. He seems to be locked in as the closer even though he only sees maybe 80% of the chances. Andrew Morris is next in line and he is turning into a solid holds candidate.
HOU: Steven Okert pitched the 7th and picked up a save. He has been really good and is moving up the bullpen ladder while becoming a decent candidate for holds. In the 8th Bryan King allowed the lead off man to reach and the next guy to hit a homer making it 3-2 and blowing the save while taking the loss. He has been struggling big time and you have to wonder if he is hurt or dealing with something. I guess the break didn't help him much. Enyel De Los Santos pitched the 9th with the team down 3-2 and had no issue. Hader is the closer and they could use a high leverage RHP or more if King continues to struggle.
BAL: They were down in the 5th and 6th while Anthony Nunez pitched two scoreless innings. Grant Wolfram got an out in the 7th before loading the bases but newly acquired Cam Sanders got out of the jam without allowing a run and ended up getting a win. They turned Andrew Kittredge in the 8th with a 3-2 lead and he allowed a one out walk while picking up a hold. In the 9th Tyler Wells made things interesting putting two on but got out of it and picked up his third save. This is pretty much what I expected on a day both Kittredge and Wells were available. Wells is the closer but he could see the occasional 8th if the top of the order is coming up.
SDP: Bradgley Rodriguez was charged with a blown save in the 6th. An error allowed an unearned runner to score but it made the score 2-2. With the score tied they turned to Adrian Morejon for the 7th and 8th and he allowed a run in the 8th that put them down 3-2. A couple singles and a walk did him in for the run. They tied it up a 3-3 in the 9th and went to Mason Miller for the bottom half of the inning. He let the first three on with a couple hits and an intentional walk but struck out the next three to get out of the inning. It's Miller so we shouldn't be surprised but that was some good work. With a 6-3 lead in the 10th they went with Kyle Hart and he got mauled allowing four runs including the ghost runner to score. He was charged with a blown save and a loss. The bullpen really is in shambles prior to the 9th right now as Rodriguez and Morejon continue to struggle. They really need Adam back and he is likely weeks away.
KCR: Steven Cruz pitched the 7th and John Schreiber pitched the 8th with the game tied. After taking a 3-2 they tuned to Alex Lange in the 9th and he got a couple quick outs before allowing a solo homer that tied it. He was charged with a blown save. Lucas Erceg struggled though the 10th allowing the ghost runner to score and two more but ended up picking up the win after they rallied. Tough luck for Lange as it was his first blown save of the season. His job remains safe though he doesn't see nearly enough chances. Erceg continues to struggle especially with any type of pressure and should be cut from all rosters.
COL: Rough day for the bullpen. Jimmy Herget allowed a couple solo homers in the 6th. Victor Vodnik gave up an unearned run in the 7th and Jeff Criswell allowed solo homers in the 8th and 9th. Romano is the closer here but he is obviously very risky to roster.
DET: They pulled the normal BS and used Keider Montero to get the last 10 outs of the game. He was pitching down 1-0 until the bottom of the 9th and hadn't allowed a base runner. In the 9th he hit a batter and allowed a single to put the first two on but buckled down and got the next three out picking up the win. No one was up in the bullpen so it was his game the whole way. Kenley is sort of the closer but they like to use guys multiple innings if they are pitching well.
LAA: Ryan Zeferjahn pitched a perfect 7th picking up a hold and Sam Bachman allowed a batter to reach in the 8th picking up a hold. With a 1-0 lead they used Kirby Yates in the 9th and he put two on while getting two outs and allowed a two run double that cost them the game. This is what to expect from Yates and it is hard to tell if he will be the closer for the next chance since they really aren't playing for anything. I feel like they keep auditioning him until the deadline and hope he turns it around. I doubt he is still here after the deadline and I think Zef will take over as the closer.
ARI: They were down for most of the bullpen innings but still used their main guys. Taylor Clarke and Kevin Ginkel pitched the 6th and 7th. They did have guys on base but neither allowed any runs. In the 8th they turned to Juan Morillo and he allowed a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly that made it 4-2. With the game tied at 4-4 in the 9th they went to Sewald and he loaded the bases before giving up a sacrifice fly that put them down 5-4. They pulled him for Brandyn Garcia who got the last two outs but Sewald ended up with the loss. Sewald has struggled all year in non-save situations but has been great in save situations. He is still the closer here.
STL: JoJo Romero hit the IL prior to the game with appendicitis. No word if it was removed but I would assume it was and if that is the case he will be out for about a month. George Soriano got two outs in the 7th picking up a hold. He came in with a runner on third and a one run lead and didn't allow them to tie it. They turned to Luis Gastelum against the meat of the lineup in the 8th and he allowed a couple runs that tied the game and was charged with a blown save. Not sure why they went with him as I would think Stanek or Graceffo would have been better options. Riley O'Brien had the 9th and allowed two on but picked one guy off which saved him. The last guy he struck out also didn't challenge with the ball clearly out of the zone. ROB picked up the save and now leads the NL with 25. The Romero loss is big and we will see how they get through the next couple weeks without him.
ATH: They got crushed but Justin Sterner gave up his normal 6 runs. This team sucks and is arguably playing the worst baseball in the game right now. Everyone in the bullpen is going to be a risky option.
SFG: They had a nice 7-0 lead for the bullpen innings tonight. Jason Foley made his triumphant return pitching a perfect 8th with a strikeout. Caleb Kilian got an inning of work in and allowed a guy on due to an error in the 9th. Kilian is likely out of the closer spot to no ones surprise. Miller and Winn are the two guys I would expect to see any upcoming save chances.
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