Bullpen Notes
7/29
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/29)
PHI: Somehow this was the second worst bullpen meltdown of the earlier games. Seth Johnson was charged with a blown save in the 7th allowing a couple inherited runners to score on a single. He did get a couple outs in the inning. Jonathan Bowlan had the 8th and allowed a lead off walk and two run homer that put them down 8-6. He took the loss. They need help in the bullpen as Kerkering and Duran are the only two reliable guys.
MIA: They were down early and Dax Fulton pitched the 6th and 7th. Tyler Zuber pitched the 8th and picked up the win when they took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Pete Fairbanks is getting hot again and he converted his second save in as many days with another perfect 9th. They are back above .500 and they might have just turned into buyers again. I would expect Fairbanks to remain as the closer since I doubt they would add someone better than him.
ARI: Brandyn Garcia was the only man needed and he pitched the 9th with a 3-0 lead. He allowed a two out walk but picked up two strikeouts. He faced the meat of the order and they did have a couple lefties who coming up. Sewald is out for the time being and Morillo had pitched back to back. They are claiming Loáisiga is in the mix but of course they didn't use him today. My feeling is this team set a record for different guys to record a save last year so I don't trust them to use any single guy. Garcia is the only lefty so I cant believe he will take over. I like Morillo but he hasn't exactly been great the last month and a half. Ginkel should be in the mix but he has failed as a closer before. I would roll the dice on Morillo if I had to choose.
WSN: Max Kranick was the first one in getting an out in the 5th and a couple in the 6th. He allowed a run in the 6th that tied the game a 1-1. Eddy Yean got the final out of the inning. Orlando Ribalta pitched the 7th and allowed three singles and a run. He was charged with a loss. Paxton Schultz started the 8th and allowed three runs that made it a 5-1 deficit. He was sent down after the game. Trevor Williams finished off the game after he had been activated from the IL. Clayton Beeter appears to be the man in this bullpen for now and they seem to have more interest in using him in only the 9th instead of the biggest spots late in the game which would be great for fantasy purposes.
TOR: Tyler Rogers got and out in the 7th with a 2-1 lead. They opened it up a little and he returned for the 8th. He allowed all three he faced to reach and a run scored which made it 5-2. He did pick up a hold. Louis Varland came on and got out of the 8th. He returned for the 9th and allowed a single but a double play aided him in picking up the save. Varland isn't a free agent until 2031 so they would need a Mason Miller like return to move him so when you see people mentioning him remember that. Rogers could be on the move and Hoffman should be.
NYM: In game one Huascar Brazoban pitched the 7th without allowing a baserunner and he picked up a win. They took a 3-2 lead in the 8th and Luke Weaver allowed a one out single but got a double play to end the inning and pick up the hold. Devin Williams allowed a two out single in the 9th and picked up the save. They were down 1-0 in game two for all of the bullpen innings and the only moderate leverage guy they used was A.J. Minter who pitched the 7th. Waiting on the deadline here since at least one of Williams, Weaver, Raley, and Minter is likely to be moved. For now Williams remains the closer and Weaver is the 8th inning holds guy.
ATL: Game one saw most of the middle leverage guys since they were down. Dylan Dodd ended up taking the loss in the 7th allowing a couple walks and a hit that scored a run to make the score 3-2. Dodd had gotten out of the 6th inning. Didier Fuentes picked up a hold pitching the 7th in game two with 1-0 lead. He also pitched in game one getting two outs in the 5th. Dylan Lee pitched a perfect 8th which was a nice improvement for him and he picked up a hold. In the 9th Raisel Iglesias faced the top of the order and had no issue picking up the save. Iglesias is the closer here and Lee is the best option for holds. They could use another high leverage guy if Suarez doesn't return and even if he does it wouldn't be a bad backup option.
DET: This might be the loss that breaks the camels back. They had a 7-0 lead in the 7th. It was 7-1 with two outs and a couple on when they pulled Skubel for Finnegan. He did not record an out and faced three batters. Two of the runs were charged to him and two were charged to Skubel. Drew Anderson got the final out and returned for the 8th. He let a couple on and allowed a one out two run triple that tied it and he was charged with a blown save. Kenley pitched the 9th with it tied. Jacob Waguespack got through the 10th but was charged with a couple in the 11th. Drew Sommers got out of the 11th but allowed the ghost runner to score in the 12 and took the loss. Kenley is the closer and if they sell or add the bullpen could get a make over. This is a team to keep your eye on.
BAL: They were down or tied for many of the innings the bullpen pitched. Tyler Wells pitched the 9th and 10th without issue. They had a two run lead in the 11th and Rico Garcia gave up a two run homer to the lead off batter. Unclear why they keep using him as he has 3 blown saves and a save in his last 4 appearances but did pickup a save as well. Grant Wolfram got an out in the 11th and two in the 12 and picked up the win. Andrew Kittredge got the final out with a couple on and he picked up the save. Another team that we wait to see if they buy or sell. Wells should be the closer but he just hasn't seen the chances to this point. Garcia and Kittredge are still in the mix.
TBR: Casey Legumina started and got five outs. They used the bulk guy next. Garrett Cleavinger came on with one out and two on in the 7th and got a hold. Kevin Kelly pitched the 8th getting the 9, 1, and 2, hitters out and picking up a hold. Bryan Baker had the 9th and allowed a one out double but was able to keep the shutout intact and pick up the save. He's still one behind Smith for the league lead but Baker is a stud. I like Cleavinger for holds.
SFG: Sam Hentges pitched the 7th and allowed a run. Caleb Kilian pitched the 8th and Keaton Winn pitched the 9th. The game was a blowout but these guys needed to get some work in. I feel pretty good about Miller being the closer here.
SDP: Kyle Hart started and Griffin Canning was used as the bulk guy getting them into the 6th. Wandy Peralta got an out in the 6th and returned for the 7th allowing a couple guys to reach while getting two outs. Bradgley Rodriguez came in and allowed a Peralta run to score but got the last two outs of the inning. Freshly activated Jeremiah Estrada pitched the 8th with a 3-1 lead and picked up a hold despite allowing a lead off walk. Mason Miller pitched the 9th and struck out two in route to his 28th save. Estrada is the guy to mention here. He was great last year and his been hurt for most of the season so far. He is a guy who will pick up holds along with Morejon and if they were to trade Miller I believe Estrada would take over as the closer.
CLE: The starter only went four innings so the deployed a majority of the bullpen today. Erik Sabrowski got a couple strikeouts to pick up the win closing out the 6th. Gaddis and Smith pitched the 8th and 9th. It would be a huge help to get Sabrowski pitching like he had to start the year. Maybe this is the first step towards that happening.
NYY: Fernando Cruz got out of a second and third one out jam in the 7th. He returned for the 8th and allowed a lead off double while getting an out. He picked up a hold and they had a 4-1 lead at the time. Paul Blackburn came on and allowed back to back homers that tied the game up at 4-4 in the 8th. He would get out of the inning and pitch the 9th but still was charged with a blown save. Tim Hill pitched a scoreless 10th. Camilo Doval came on for the 11th with a 5-4 lead. He did get a couple outs but the catcher made an error that let the ghost runner score. He was charged with a blown save. Ryan Yarbrough was the last man left and he allowed the ghost runner to score in the 12th after getting an out. Bednar, Headrick, and Chivilli were all not available. There's no question that hurt them. Blackburn finally choked in a big spot so well see how he bounces back. Cruz and Headrick are the guys you want to roster for holds and Bednar is the closer.
CWS: They were down until the 9th after they had tied it. Grant Taylor pitched the 9th, 10th, and got one out in the 11th. Bryan Hudson came on and allowed the ghost runner to score which was charged to Taylor. Hudson did get out of the 11th after that. In the 12 they used Jordan Hicks and he loaded the bases but kept any runs from scoring. Taylor likely wont pitch for a couple days now so maybe Newcomb jumps back into the closer spot for a couple days. Hudson could be involved too. As good as Taylor was this is the problem with calling him the closer.
KCR: They had a 4-0 lead and turned to Lynch in the 8th. He faced a couple LHB's so this was no big surprise. In the 9th they used Cruz and he pitched a perfect inning. Again it wasn't a save situation but this is the exact type of outing you want to see from Cruz. Hopefully they will let him take over and he can grow into the role over for the remainder of the season.
STL: They turned to Justin Bruihl in the 6th with a 0-0 score and he was perfect. Ryne Stanek had the 7th, George Soriano had the 8th, and Riley O'Brien pitched the 9th. None of them pitched particularly well though none of them allowed a hit. Four walks and a hit batter for the group. They did get the game into the 10th and Luis Gastelum took the mound. He allowed a one out dong that plated the ghost runner and made the game 2-0. After a single he got a double play to end the inning. He would pick up the win as they rallied in the bottom of the 10th. The 7th, 8th, and 9th were pitched by the expected guys and well see if Stanek and ROB remain here after the deadline.
CHC: We had a 0-0 game until the 10th. Webb faced the meat of the order in the and struck out all three guys in the 8th. This is pretty much to expect with him as they use him in the biggest spots not just the 9th. Caleb Thielbar pitched the 9th and he allowed a two out double but no runs. They took a 2-0 lead in the 10th and as expected went with Trent Thornton to try and close it out. He gave up a hit and a walk which loaded the bases. He did get an out that scored a run but allowed a double that scored two and ended the game. Webb is the best option for saves and Thornton is next in line. They should be actively trying to bring in a reliever which could alter the high leverage innings.
LAA: Chase Silseth was traded to TEX. Statistically he might have been their best bullpen guy but he did pitch in mid level situations. Mitch Farris blew the game in the 6th and picked up his second loss in as many nights. Yates pitched the 7th allowing a run and his time should be coming to an end here. Zef, Bachman, and Natera are probably the best options for saves and Zef is the guy I would roster.
HOU: With a 5-3 lead in the 6th and a guy on first Bennett Sousa came in and got the final out. He returned to pitch a perfect 7th and picked up a hold. Recent 8th inning man Steven Okert gave up a couple doubles and sac fly that plated a run. He was pulled with two outs and picked up a hold. Bryan Abreu got the final out of the 8th and pitched the a perfect 9th. He has been pitching much better and they have used him late in the game again. He could certainly be rostered for holds. At this point they really don't even need to get a high leverage righty at the deadline. Hader is the closer and I would want Okert still for holds but Abreu and Sousa could be worth spots in deeper leagues.
ATH: Hayden Juenger was the first in with an out in the 6th and the game tied at 2-2. He got out of the 6th and returned for the 7th getting two outs and putting a couple on. Alvarado got out of the 7th inning jam with a walk and an out but hit a batter in the 8th while getting two outs. Brady Basso got the final out of the 8th and allowed a couple two out hits in the 9th before getting out of that inning. They went back to Jose Suarez in the 10th with the game still tied at 2-2 and he allowed a two run dong to the first batter he faced and took the loss after they couldn't rally. Harris is the closer here and Medina is the best option for holds though he is risky.
BOS: The bullpen was dominant like always and that is why they have the best bullpen ERA in the game. With the score tied at 2-2 in the 6th they went with Tyron Guerrero who pitched a perfect inning. Justin Slaten had the 7th, Garrett Whitlock had the 8th, and Aroldis Chapman pitched the 9th. Chapman had a runner on third with one out but struck out the next two and he picked up the win. You would think they would be out of decent guys at that point but they still had Greg Weissert for the 10th. He had a 4-2 lead and didn't allow a run to pick up the save. Weissert might not be that great but he would easily be pitching in the 8th for the A's. The bullpen structure remains the same here with Chapman and Whitlock as the best options for saves and holds.
LAD: They had a 4-0 lead when they went with Alex Vesia in the 7th. He walked a batter but got out of the inning. Tanner Scott pitched the 8th and struggled allowing a double and single that plated a run. That set up Edwin Diaz to get the save chance with a 4-2 lead in the 9th. Diaz allowed a couple doubles that plated a run but was never in any real trouble. They hit the ball hard but obviously he is gonna have some rust. He also faced the meat of the line up. Diaz is gonna close and we'll see how he does. That will leave the big situations prior to the 9th for Scott so he is the guy to roster for holds. Vesia and Phillips have some low end holds value.
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