Bullpen Notes
8/2
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(8/2)
ATL: Dylan Dodd pitched a perfect 5th and picked up a win. Didier Fuentes was perfect in both the 6th and 7th picking up a hold with a 3-2 lead. With a 4-2 lead in the 8th Dylan Lee walked the lead off hitter but got a double play and picked up a hold. Raisel Iglesias pitched the 9th allowing a two out walk and picked up the save. They have a solid bullpen and if they don't add one more guy they could certainly just hold out until Suarez comes back.
TOR: Spencer Miles pitched the 7th and 8th with the game tied 1-1. He ran into some trouble letting two on in the 8th but got out of it. With the game still tied at 1-1 in the 9th they went with Louis Varland. He allowed the first three to reach and one of them scored on a single. He got a couple outs after that and should have been out of the inning but the second baseman threw away an easy grounder that would have been out number three. He would allow another single that made it 5-1 and three of the runs were unearned. Mason Fluharty got the final out but Varland was charged with a loss. They are still in the hunt since pretty much everyone is but I have to believe that Hoffman will be on the move. This is a team to watch as we approach the deadline.
STL: Ryne Stanek allowed a one out triple in the 7th with a 1-0 lead and managed to get out of the inning and pick up a hold. George Soriano pitched the 8th and allowed a two out single and double that scored a run and tied the game. He would be charged with a blown save but picked up a win after they scored in the top of the 9th. With a 5-1 lead Riley O'Brien pitched the 9th and allowed a lead off single but nothing else. Another team that we are waiting to see what they do tomorrow. ROB could be the best closer on the market or he could be unavailable. Stanek should be moved and Romero is a maybe since he is hurt. Soriano should take over the 9th if ROB is traded but he has been struggling in July.
CLE: After yesterdays blowout they used some of the main guys in the bullpen to hold a 5-0 lead. Hunter Gaddis walked a guy in the 6th but got the final out to end the inning. Craig Yoho made his debut for CLE and hit a guy with two outs but got out of the inning. Matt Festa got two outs in the 8th and allowed two runners to reach. Cade Smith got the final out of the 8th and pitched the 9th allowing a couple walks but getting out of the inning. More of a work inning for Smith with the 5-0 lead. They have a good bullpen but it has struggled lately and they could look to add before the deadline.
CWS: With a 5-0 lead and a runner on first in the 7th they turned to Grant Taylor. He got out of that inning and pitched the 8th allowing a couple singles but getting a double play to help him out. They took a 9-0 lead and used Duncan Davitt in the 9th and he allowed a run and was sent down after the game. Taylor hadn't pitched in three days so it isn't shocking to see him in there but it is disappointing if you think he is closing here. He remains the most talented guy in the bullpen but they use a committee approach to the 9th and he pitches in bulk situations too often. They could add another arm at the deadline preferably a righty and well see what the bullpen looks like if they do.
NYM: They were down 1-0 when they turned to the bullpen. Brooks Raley was the first in for the 6th against the top of the order and he had no issues. Luke Weaver covered the 7th and also had no issues. Huascar Brazoban pitched the 8th allowing only a two out walk. Devin Williams allowed a hit, stolen base, and another hit that scored a run in the 9th. He was facing the meat of the order. Now we wait to see which of these guys is on the move. Raley should be and Weaver and Williams might be as well. We will check back once the deadline passes but Brazzy could benefit the most if some of the others are on the move.
MIA: Michael Petersen came on in the 7th with two on and no outs. He walked the first batter he faced to load the bases but got a couple strikeouts and a grounder to end the inning. He picked up a hold and that was a huge outing. Tyler Zuber pitched the 8th and picked up a hold against the meat of the order. He has been pitching in bigger spots but I wouldn't add him yet. Pete Fairbanks had the 9th with a 2-0 lead and walked a couple batters but got out of the inning and picked up the save. They shouldn't be selling so I doubt anyone from the bullpen is moved. If they do trade bullpen pitchers Fairbanks would be the most likely in my option. I doubt we see much change and Fairbanks will remain the closer.
PIT: They got blown out but did get to use Camilo Doval. He pitched the 8th with the team down 9-2 and allowed a homer. Ron Marinaccio also pitched the 4th and 5th and allowed a couple runs to put the team down a lot. None of the moves they have made will solve their problems so we will wait and see if something else is on the way.
TEX: The bullpen cost them this one in the 7th. Robby Ahlstrom got out of the 6th getting two outs with the team down 3-2. After they tied it Tyler Alexander came on for the 7th and let two of the three he faced reach base. He would be replaced by Cole Winn who got beat like a drum allowing both of Alexander's runs to score and two of his own as he let four of five reach. Ben Peoples got out of the inning and pitched the 8th with the team now down 7-3. Alexander was charged with the loss. This team needs to add to the bullpen with Junis hurt so we will see what they do tonight and tomorrow.
HOU: Steven Okert got an out to end the 6th with a 3-2 lead but returned for the 7th and allowed a lead off homer to tie it. He would allow another single and get an out before being pulled for Bryan Abreu. Abreu did walk a guy but got out of the 7th and picked up a win when they took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Okert was charged with a blown save. With a 7-3 lead they went with Bryan King for the 8th and he allowed a couple to reach though one was on an error. With two outs and two on AJ Blubaugh came in and got a strikeout to end the inning. He returned to pitch the 9th and picked up a save. The bullen looks strong and like every team they could add a guy but it isn't a major need due to Abreu returning to form.
NYY: They had a 2-1 lead in the 6th inning and brought in Brent Headrick who got the final out with the bases loaded. He returned for the 7th and pitched a perfect inning picking up a hold. Paul Blackburn started the 8th against the top of the order and walked a couple guys while getting two outs and picking up a hold. David Bednar got the final out of the 8th and picked up the save in the 9th allowing just a lead off walk. They did lose a couple of their lower leverage relievers in a trade to the Nats so I would expect that we see a new name or two in this bullpen before the deadline passes. Bednar should remain the closer.
KCR: Steven Cruz pitched the 8th with the team down 8-1. He had no issues. As I have been saying he is the closer here and this was just a work day. The rest of the bullpen continues to be awful and we will see who is left after the deadline.
LAA: Luke Murphy pitched the 7th with a 2-0 lead and picked up a hold. Fairly high leverage spot for a guy making his second appearance this season. Sam Bachman started the 8th getting an out and allowing a walk before leaving the game with an injury. They are calling it arm fatigue and really this isn't a surprise as his weird usage the since the break has been pretty telling. Ryan Zeferjahn came in and got out of the inning with a couple strikeouts while allowing a hit. Zef returned for the 9th and allowed a one out single but got the save. They are selling so we will see who remains. If Zef is here I think he is the closer going forward even when Joyce returns.
ATH: They used Elvis Alvarado in the 4th and 5th with the team down 6-0. They also used Hogan Harris in the 6th with the same score. I'm guessing Harris was going to be in this game at some point so when they went down 6 they decided that was the time. It had been four days since he pitched. They're a bad team and wont win a lot but Harris is the closer if he remains after the deadline.
MIN: They spent most of the game down which was not the worst since they needed to rest some of the bullpen guys. Kendry Rojas gave up a three run dong in the 7th to make it 6-0. A.J. Minter pitched the 8th without issue with the team down 6-5. They tied it and used Yoendrys Gomez who got an out but allowed three singles the last of which ended the game. As good as Gomez has been if they went out and got a real closer he could be out of the 9th. I don't think they will but if they were to truly go for it I could see it happening.
SEA: The bullpen started the 8th with a 6-0 lead and Eduard Bazardo struggled. The first batter he faced reach on an error and the next guy hit a homer. He also got an out and allowed a double before being pulled for Jose Ferrer. Ferrer allowed a hit and a three run homer to make it 6-5. Ferrer got the next two batters out to get out of the inning. Andrés Muñoz pitched the 9th and allowed a lead off homer that tied the game. He would put a couple more on but got out of the inning. He was charged with a blown save and picked up the win. That would have been a crushing loss if they had blown this one.
SFG: The bullpen pitched well keeping them in the game. Sam Hentges came in with guys on and loaded the bases before getting out of it in the 5th. He returned and pitched a perfect 6th. Dylan Smith allowed a two out single in the 7th. JT Brubaker started the 8th and got two outs with a walked mix in. Erik Miller came in and got the last out after hitting a batter. Miller remains the closer and I would think Hentges gets moved but he might be the only one from the bullpen.
SDP: Another chaos game with Kyle Hart going the first three. Two bulk guys going the next three and allowing three runs. Jeremiah Estrada pitched the 7th with a 5-3 lead and allowed a walk but got a double play to end the inning. He picked up a hold and pitched back to back days. Bradgley Rodriguez started the 8th by getting two outs and then allowed a homer to make it 5-4 and a runner to reach third before he was pulled for Adrian Morejon who got a strikeout to end the inning. Morejon returned for the 9th and hit a batter with two outs but picked up a save. Rodriguez got a hold in the 8th. Miller was resting after getting five outs yesterday. I doubt they move any of the main guys in the bullpen so not much will change after the deadline.
BOS: They used a decent amount of the bullpen guys in this one. Justin Slaten got the final out of the 6th with a man on and picked up a hold. The score was 6-3 at the time. Tyron Guerrero had the 7th and allowed a run scoring double that made it 6-4 but he picked up a hold as well. They took an 8-4 lead and used Jovani Moran and Greg Weissert to get thought the 8th. Garrett Whitlock pitched the 9th so we no longer have to worry about his absence last night. They just finished up a pretty incredible run against some solid teams. The bullpen is the best in the game and while they don't need any major help you can always use another arm or two.
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