Bullpen Notes

7/31

LAB REPORTS

By: The Lab

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Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/31)

NYY: Paul Blackburn got out of a two on two out jam to end the 7th. He struck out the side in the 8th to pick up a hold. I guess we got our answer to how he would bounce back from allowing a couple runs the other day. David Bednar pitched the 9th allowing a one out single while he picked up the save. Bednar is the closer here and they have a bunch of guys who have pitched well and could pick up holds but Cruz and Headrick are the best options. They could also add to the bullpen.

PIT: Brutal loss for the bucs. Skenes struggled so they used Antwone Kelly to get them to the 8th. After taking a 7-5 lead they turned to Wilber Dotel who started the inning by letting the 8 and 9 guys on. After getting an out a deep single plated two runners and tied the game. Monty came on and should have gotten out of it with the game tied but the third baseman threw away an easy grounder that put them down 8-7. Dotal was charged with a blown save and the loss. They really needed to get a high leverage righty weeks ago and now it has come back to haunt them again. We'll see if they end up making a move.

CIN: Sam Moll and Julian Garcia pitched the 7th getting through the top of the lineup and both picking up holds. Caleb Ferguson started the 8th with a 5-4 lead and allowed two singles while getting an out. Pierce Johnson got an out and allowed both of Fergusons runs to score and one of his own after allowing three straight singles. He was charged with a blown save. They rallied to take a 8-7 lead and Emilio Pagán pitched the 9th. He hit a batter with two outs and picked up the win. Just waiting to see what this team does at the deadline but if Pagan stays he is a solid option at closer.

PHI: Orion Kerkering started the 7th inning with a 4-2 lead against the latter part of the order. Things got pretty ugly after he allowed a couple to reach and a double that tied it. He would get the second out and hit a batter before being pulled for Tim Mayza who was facing a LHB. He allowed a triple that plated two more Kerkering runs. In total it was four runs, a loss, and a blown save for Kerk. They need late inning bullpen help and can't afford to have Kerkering pitch this poorly.

BAL: Anthony Nunez closed out the 7th and would end up picking up the win. He did get the top of the lineup out allowing just a walk to Schwarber. Yennier Cano who signed a two year extension prior to the game pitched a perfect 8th and picked up a hold. With a 6-4 lead Tyler Wells pitched the 9th and he was perfect. This team seems to be poised to buy instead of sell and that would mean that Wells remains the best option for saves even if he doesn't get every chance.

STL: With the big names resting after pitching back to back they had to turn to the mid leverage guys. Justin Bruihl started the 7th with the game tied at 1-1 and let two of three reach. Peter Strzelecki came in and hit a batter to load the bases but got a double play to send it to the 8th. He returned for the 8th and allowed a couple walks while getting an out. Gordon Graceffo came in and walked the bases loaded but instead of getting a double play he allowed a two run single that put them down 3-1. Don't look too much into this and ROB remains the closer with Soriano as the next in line. Very possible ROB is the best closer on the market though it is unclear if he would be traded.

TOR: Spencer Miles pitched the 7th with the game tied at 1-1. Jeff Hoffman pitched a strong 8th with a couple strikeouts. Nice little audition for him with the deadline nearing and he picked up a win. Louis Varland allowed a one out single but picked up the save. Varland is the closer here and unless he gets moved which I doubt he will remain the closer for the rest of the year.

CLE: The starter got into the 8th with a 1-0 lead and put two on while getting one out. Erik Sabrowski came on and walked the bases loaded before allowing two singles that made the game 4-1. Matt Festa got the final two outs on a double play but not before he allowed a single that plated another Sabrowski run. Sabrowski was charged with a blown save and loss as well as 2 runs (1 unearned) and the starter was charged with two runs. They have a great bullpen with Smith and Gaddis as the closer and 8th inning man but they really need to get a lefty that can help them late with how bad Sabrowski has been.

ARI: We got out first look at the bullpen in a close game and with a lead since Sewald was removed from the 9th. Clarke had the 6th with the team down 1-0 and pitched a perfect inning. Jonathan Loáisiga pitched the 7th despite Torey claiming he was the closer and he walked a guy but picked up a win. Kevin Ginkel pitched in the 8th against the meat of the order and picked up a hold with the score now 4-1. Brandyn Garcia pitched the 9th and with the same 4-1 lead he was perfect picking up the save. Seems like Garcia is the man for the 9th here and I would go out and add him. That leaves Ginkel and Morillo for the 8th and Loaisiga for the lesser innings as well.

MIA: Cade Gibson was the first in for the 6th and he allowed two of three to reach while getting an out. They brought in Faucher who got out of the inning and got two outs in the 7th before allowing a homer. He picked up a hold. Tyler Zuber got the last out in the 7th and pitched a perfect 8th picking up a hold. They had a 5-2 lead in the 9th and Pete Fairbanks was perfect picking up the save. Fairbanks continues to be on a hot run and is pitching himself into staying and the team into buying at the deadline.

ATL: Elieser Hernandez ended up picking up a three inning save. He allowed two men to reach in each inning but only one scored in the 9th. They had a 6-1 lead and since he pitched three innings he qualified for the save. Most of the main guys had pitched yesterday and Iggy had gone back to back so this was a nice break for the rest of the bullpen.

COL: Antonio Senzatela came on in the 7th with a guy on second and two outs. He allowed a single that didn't score the run and got an out to end the inning. In the 8th he returned with a 3-1 lead and struck the first batter out before being replaced by Brennan Bernardino. Bernie got the next two outs in between a walk and both guys picked up holds. Jordan Romano had the 9th and he was perfect picking up one strikeout. They don't have a holds guys I would want to roster but Romano is making a case to be added for saves. He really just had one bad series against the Yankees in April and he did give up 4 in a blowout that got him cut against the Royals. He has allowed one run and picked up 5 saves here in his 6.1IP. It's risky but if you need saves he is clearly the closer.

MIL: The main guys hadn't pitched in a few days so they did use Uribe and Megill. The team was up 6-2 and they got all five outs that they needed in the 8th and 9th. Both guys are locked into their roles and they might bring in some more help in the bullpen over the next couple days.

ATH: The bullpen turned a 2-1 deficit in the 8th into a 13-1 mauling over the last two innings. Hayden Juenger looked good in the 5th. They need help so he could move into higher leverage though I wouldn't add him. Brady Basso got through the 6th and 7th and let a few on in the 8th that came around to score. Luis Morales gave up most of the runs in the 8th though a couple were charged to Basso and Morales gave up four more in the 9th. Harris is the closer here and well see what happens at the deadline. Harris could be moved and that would leave Alvarado and Medina which is awful.

SDP: They used the pitching chaos stuff they have been talking about recently. It is basically a bullpen game though today it was pretty much using the bullpen guys first and the starter second. Bradgley Rodriguez started and Yuki Matsui pitched they next three innings picking up a win. They had a big lead and used the typical starter German Marquez for the last five innings and he picked up a save. Hey it worked today so good for them but Miller is the closer here and Morejon and Estrada are the best options for holds.

SEA: Jose Ferrer was the first man in getting a couple outs in the 6th. He returned for the 7th with the same 3-2 lead and allowed a lead off homer that tied it, a single, and got an out before being pulled. Eduard Bazardo came in and allowed a double that made the score 4-3. Bazardo would get out of the 7th and allow a run in the 8th. Ferrer was charged with a blown save and a loss. The bullpen needs help bad and at this point they might need high and low leverage guys if they want to make a push.

MIN: Kody Funderburk got three outs in the 6th and one in the 7th while picking up a win. Tommy Nance got the last two outs of the 7th with no issue and picked up a hold. Andrew Morris was perfect in the 8th picking up a hold. Yoendrys Gomez allowed a couple one out walks in the 9th but got the last two guys out and was credited with a save. Minter wasn't active yet but I imagine he would have seen some of Funderburks work. They seem to be more of a buyer so that does open up the chance of them adding a closer. Gomez has been good but if they were to get ROB or Devin Williams that would be an upgrade at closer. I think they will ride with what they have going forward though.

LAD: They went with a bullpen game though Diaz and Scott had pitched back to back. It didn't matter as they weren't needed. Brock Stewart hit the IL for the 3rd time prior to the game which is a shame. Cole Irvin gave up five in the 8th and was charged with the loss. He was pitching in his 5th inning at the time was the bulk guy who was there to eat innings at all cost. When you an 11 game lead in the division you can do that. Diaz is the closer and Scott is the 8th inning man and maybe Vesia is worth rostering for holds.

BOS: The bullpen had also been pretty taxed the last few days so they used the starter, Jovani Moran for one out in the 5th, and Brayan Bello for the last four innings. Bello was great as he has been all year when pitching out of the bullpen. He picked up the win and the high leverage guys got an extra day of rest.

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