LAB REPORTS

Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/21)

CLE: Great night for the bullpen with four guys seeing action. Colin Holderman closed out the 6th after allowing a walk and picked up a win. With a 4-2 lead Shawn Armstrong got a couple outs and allowed a couple hits in the 7th. Hunter Gaddis got the last out of the 7th and pitched a perfect 8th. Both guys picked up holds. Cade Smith closed out the game pitching a perfect 9th and picking up his league leading 29th save. Smith and Gaddis are the guys to roster and Holderman is looking more and more like a decent sleeper as he might have replaced Sabrowski in high leverage spots.

SDP: Yuki Matsui came on in the 6th with two outs and two on. He walked a batter to load the bases before getting the final out. He walked a guy and got an out in the 7th picking up a hold but the walk came around to score. Bradgley Rodriguez got the last two outs of the 7th but allowed a run on a balk. They had gone up 6-2 so he did not get a hold. Morejon and Miller finished out the game and we might not see that much more. They were up 8-3 so all that was recorded were outs. If Miller is traded Morejon will likely be gone as well. That would open the door for Rodriguez I would guess but Jeremiah Estrada should end up with the job if he returns from the IL.

PHI: They were down 2-1 but used José Alvarado in the 8th and Jonathan Bowlan in the 9th. Both guys were perfect and Bowlan got though the middle of the lineup. Alvarado is a guy they need to get right if they want improve this bullpen. Bowlan has moved up in the bullpen as well. Keep an eye out here to see what they do at the deadline but Duran is one of the best at closer.

LAD: Evan Phillips got a couple outs in the 7th and returned to get an out in the 8th as well. They brought in Tanner Scott for the next couple batters because they were both left handed. The good news for Scott was he returned for the 9th and allowed a single, got an out, and allowed a double. The next batter hit a little dribble and they got a guy in a run down between home and third. After tagging that guy out they threw to second to get the runner who should have been at third but was heading back to second. Scott picked up the save getting 5 outs. Edwin Diaz could be back as early as this weekend which would put an end to Scott's run as the closer.

SFG: The starter put a couple on in the 6th and they went with Hentges. He allowed a single that tied the game, hit a batter, and struck a guy out. With two on they brought in Winn who also allowed a single to the first batter he faced that scored a run before getting out of the inning. Both runs were charged to the starter and Hentges was charged with a blown save. Smith and Kilian pitched the 7th and 8th with the team down 3-2 and Smith allowed a couple runners but neither allowed a run. It looks like Erik Miller is the closer here and Winn appears to be the fireman prior to the 9th. I would say add Miller if you really need saves.

KCR: Matt Strahm managed to get a couple outs in the 7th with a 3-2 lead and pick up a hold. John Schreiber had the 8th and despite allowing a two out walk picked up a hold. In the 9th they went with Alex Lange who allowed a one out walk but picked up the save. Surprising to see Lange here as you rarely see a guy with a chance to pick up a blown save hat trick. Cruz and Lynch had pitched the day before so maybe that factored into this but for now it is safe to consider Lange the closer. He is a risky option and if he gets traded or replaced Lynch if he is still there and Cruz could be the next men up.

TEX: We have the bulk save shock of the week here with Marco Gonzales going three innings after getting the call, not allowing a run, and picking up a save. Yes it is that Marco Gonzales from SEA years ago and PIT most recently in 2024. Doubt he does much for fantasy but for now he is back in the league.

HOU: They had used what I would say were their main guys yesterday but they had another close one today. AJ Blubaugh was in for the 7th with a 5-1 lead and allowed a single and a dong to make it 5-3. He would allow another double before getting out of the inning. Bennett Sousa was thrown into the fire right away after being activated the other day. He pitched a perfect 8th and picked up a hold. In the 9th they went with Josh Hader and he allowed a lead off double but picked up the save. Hader is the guy here and they are trying to piece together the rest of the bullpen. Sousa is an option to cover some of King's innings though I doubt he jumps Okert yet in the pecking order.

WSN: They DFA'd Justin Lawrence despite using him in somewhat important situations. He didn't make the bullpen better but it was odd. Carson Palmquist started and gave up four. Orlando Ribalta got out of a bases loaded jam in the 6th that he inherited by striking out a couple. Matt Krook pitched the 7th and allowed a couple to reach but kept the game tied. As expected they used Clayton Beeter in the 8th against the top of the order and after getting a couple outs he allowed a solo homer. He would be charged with the loss. Same problem as they've had all year as Beeter isn't a true high leverage guy but is the best they have. For those hoping he will close he wont since they need him to get out of big spots. I am avoiding him as I have all year long.

COL: Brennan Bernardino got an out in the 4th and pitched the 5th. Remember when others were listing him as a closer option a couple weeks ago? Not here and that is why you follow. Vodnik had the 6th and had no issue. They took a 7-6 lead and Jimmy Herget pitched the 7th. He allowed a run and continued to struggle while being charged with a blown save. Juan Mejia pitched a perfect 8th and picked up the win. That left the 9th for Jordan Romano who struck out two and picked up the save. He's the closer here and while I certainly wouldn't roster him he really just got broken by the Yankees earlier in the year. He had some success prior to that so maybe he has gotten over it.

LAA: Mitch Farris pitched the 7th and got an out in the 8th with a 5-1 lead. Chase Silseth got the last two outs in the 8th. Neither qualified for a hold due to the lead. They went with Ryan Zeferjahn in the 9th. He allowed a weak single and hit a batter but also struck out three. I think Zef is the closer here and if he isn't he will be after the deadline when they trade or let Yates go. I don't think Joyce closes when he returns if Zef can get his walks under control he has all the stuff you need for the 9th.

ATH: Prior to the game they place Mark Leiter on the IL. I thought he could see the occasional save chance as the right handed option but that is no more. They used Jose Suarez to get two outs in the 7th and that shouldn't be a big deal but he got a hold yesterday and is one of the better guys they have left. Elvis Alvarado walked the first two he faced in the 8th before getting together and getting out of the inning. Hogan Harris pitched the 9th after they tied it in the 9th. He allowed the leadoff guy on but got the next three. Luis Medina had the 10th with a 5-4 lead and he struggled. Control was the main issue and he loaded the bases before allowing a single that scored the ghost runner, getting an out and allowing a single that ended the game. Harris is the closer here but I feel like he could end up like Beeter for the Nats and just pitching in the biggest spots. As a lefty he should draw interest at the deadline if they want to move him.

ARI: Smooth ride until the 9th here. Taylor Clarke pitched the 6th and Juan Morillo pitched the 7th. Both guys kept runs off the board and picked up holds. Ryan Thompson pitched the 8th and allowed a solo dong that made it 4-2. They turned to Paul Sewald in the 9th and he got a couple quick outs but allowed a triple and a homer that tied the game. He was cruising until he wasn't and that is a blown save. Kevin Ginkel pitched the 10th and allowed the ghost runner to score but picked up the win. Sewald has hit a rough patch but I dont think he loses the job just yet. Morillo and Ginkel are the handcuffs. I'd lean Morillo since both Sewald and Ginkel could be on the move if the team struggles this week and next.

CIN: They had a 3-0 lead when the bullpen was activated. Sam Moll was the first in for the 6th and allowed a walk and single while getting an out and being pulled. Tejay Antone came in and got the final two outs of the inning. He started the 7th and allowed a homer that made it 3-1. Brock Burke finished the 7th but while getting the last out walked two that loaded the bases. All three of those guys picked up holds. Julian Garcia pitched the 8th and allowed a lead off homer that made it 3-2 but picked up a hold. They got the run back in the top of the inning and Emilio Pagán pitched a perfect 9th to pick up the save. Pagán looked good and he is the closer here but also a guy that should draw interest at the deadline. We have already seen what the bullpen looks like without him.

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