Bullpen Notes

8/4

LAB REPORTS

By: The Lab

--/--/--

Bullpen Notes🗒️(8/4)

LAA: Mitch Farris pitched the 8th with the team down 2-1 and allowed a homer. No need to roster him. Ben Joyce was activated so he should be in the mix for saves. I don't think he takes the 9th right away and Samy Natera Jr. could also be in the mix if Joyce is used prior to the 9th to work off the rust.

BAL: They had a 2-0 lead going into the 7th and used Rico Garcia. He put a couple guys on but got out of it picking up a hold. Andrew Kittredge pitched the 8th and allowed a couple doubles that made it 2-1. He picked up a hold as well. With a 3-1 lead they turned to Yennier Cano in the 9th and he allowed a lead off double but got though the inning and picked up the save. My breakdown is Cano probably has the slight lead for the role here. Kittridge did pitch against the meat of the order while Cano got 7, 8, and 9. I think both of these guys could be worth rostering until we see who gets the next chance. Hopefully we can count Garcia out for now.

ATH: Brady Basso pitched the 7th with 4-3 lead picking up a hold. They turned to closer Hogan Harris in the 8th with the top of the lineup coming up. Harris was wild walking the first two and allowing the tying run to score on a wild pitch. He would walk another batter and that last pitch got away to allow the go ahead run to score. Alvarado came in to get the final out after throwing a couple pitches near the guys head and letting the runner reach second on a wild pitch. Nothing changes here. Harris is the closer and has had issues with walks all year. Alvarado and Medina are not any better.

CIN: Sam Moll pitched the 7th with the game tied at 3-3. He got a couple outs, allowed a single, and then a run scored on an error. He was in line for the loss but they rallied in the 8th. Julian Garcia pitched the 8th and picked up a win. Emilio Pagán had the 9th with a 5-4 lead and he allowed a couple guys to reach but converted the save. They really didn't move anyone important in the bullpen so this structure remains the same. Pagan is a solid option for saves though some games might be an adventure.

PHI: They had a 5-0 lead and used newly acquired Caleb Kilian. He allowed a single but nothing else. I think he will be a mid leverage guy so most of his fantasy value is likely gone.

NYM: They gutted the bullpen so that just means new roles are out there to be had. Dedniel Nunez was activated from the IL but didn't pitch. Daniel Duarte got a couple outs in the 7th and picked up a hold. Nate Lavender got out of the 7th and pitched the 8th picking up a hold. Kodai Senga pitched the 9th with a 6-2 lead. Senga in big spots would be an interesting development. Duarte seems like the better add over Lavender. Williams is the closer but lets so who emerges in the 8th inning.

NYY: They were up 2-0 and went with Fernando Cruz in the 7th. He allowed a lead off double and got two outs. Brent Headrick got the final out and returned for the 8th. After allowing the first two on, he got the next two out, and was replaced by Bednar. Both guys picked up holds. Bednar walked a guy in the 8th but ended the inning and he returned to pitch a perfect 9th picking up the save. These three guys should see most of the action for saves and holds with Blackburn in some high leverage spots as well.

MIA: John King gave up a couple runs in the 7th to make it 3-0. One of them was unearned after an error. Newly added Victor Vodnik loaded the bases with no outs in the 8th and got out of it allowing a run on a wild pitch. I wouldn't count on Vodnik for much here as they have better guys to handle the higher leverage spots.

ATL: Dylan Dodd got three outs in the 7th after coming in with a guy on and a 1-0 lead. Dylan Lee pitched the 8th and allowed a two out walk but nothing else. Both guys picked up holds. They used Raisel Iglesias in the 9th in the dreaded none save situation after making it 4-0 in the 8th. He struggled allowing three hits, a walk, and two runs before getting the final out on a caught stealing. Dodd has been really good and is moving up in the bullpen. Lee and Iggy are still the two guys to roster for holds and saves.

BOS: Erik Miller got into the game in the 6th getting an out with a guy on. His value is gone as he becomes a mid leverage guy in this bullpen. Brayan Bello who has been great in the bullpen pitched the final three innings and picked up the save. It was a mauling and they gave their big name arms a day of rest.

KCR: They had a 5-1 lead when they turned to the bullpen. Daniel Lynch IV pitched the 6th, John Schreiber pitched the 7th, and Steven Cruz pitched the 8th and allowed a run. Cruz allowed a lead off homer that made it a 5-2 game. Nate Pearson pitched the 9th after they took an 8-2 lead. I'm assuming they were going with Lange in the 9th if they had a save chance since it was him or Erceg but maybe Pearson was pitching the 9th no matter what. Cruz might not be talking over the 9th but until we see someone convert a save I cant say he is out. I wouldn't want to roster anyone else right now either. Pearson was DFA'd by HOU a couple weeks ago if you are thinking about him as the closer.

PIT: They were down for the bullpen innings and used Wilber Dotel, Yohan Ramirez, and Kirby Yates. Dotel was the only one who allowed a run. Yates has a chance of pitching in some important innings but the other two are just going to be mid to low leverage guys.

MIL: Antonio Senzatela pitched the 7th with a 4-2 lead. He allowed a walk but got a double play and picked up a hold. Abner Uribe had the 8th and he hit a guy and allowed a single but got out of the inning picking up hold. Trevor Megill pitched a perfect 9th and picked up the save. This will be the formula until JoJo Romero returns which should be sometime this month. Ashby looks to be taking a bit of a hit here as he probably moves into lower leverage spots one Romero is back. Megill and Uribe are the guys to roster for saves and holds.

LAD: With the team down 2-1 in the 7th Alex Vesia came in and allowed a double and single while getting two outs. A run did score and he was pulled for Evan Phillips who allowed another Vesia run to make it a 4-1 deficit. Edwin Díaz started the 8th and allowed a dong with one out. He didn't make it though the inning after allowing two more to reach. Jack Dreyer got the final out. It was a work day as they keep losing so most of the big names haven't pitched a lot. Diaz is gonna be rusty but I wouldn't worry much about him pitching in non-save situations. He remains the closer and until he blows one in the 9th I'm not worried and Scott will remain as the main guy for holds.

CHC: Ryan Rolison got the final out of the 6th and two in the 7th. He ended up picking up a win as they took the lead in the 7th. Tyler Ferguson got the final out of the inning and picked up a hold. They used Ryan Zeferjahn in the 8th with a 4-1 lead and he had a perfect inning picking up the save. He was facing the bottom part of the lineup and did get Ohtani out. Jacob Webb pitched the 9th in a non-save situation against the middle of the lineup. This bullpen remains the same as I think Webb pitches in the biggest spots and that wont always be in the 9th. Webb and Zef are the guys I would roster for saves.

SFG: Jason Foley made an appearance in the 6th with the team down 2-0. He pitched a perfect inning. JT Brubaker pitched a perfect 7th and returned to for the 8th. He allowed a lead off walk and was pulled for Reiver Sanmartin who gave up two runs before getting an out. One of those was charged to Bru. Houser came in and got the final out of the inning after Sanmartin got two outs. They tied the game and went with Dylan Smith in the 9th. He gave up a double and got a couple outs in between a walk but allowed a game ending double. It was a cheap loss since the outfielder got turned around and missed the ball. Probably in the 90%+ catch rate range but it didn't hit his glove so it wasn't an error. So Foley isn't going to close but Smith should see another change in the 9th despite tonight's result. I would add him if you are desperate for saves.

TEX: Another rough one here for the bullpen though they prevailed. Chase Silseth pitched the 7th with a 2-0 lead. He walked a guy, got two outs, and gave up a two run dong. He was charged with a blown save. Robby Ahlstrom got the last out of the 7th and the first two of the 8th without issue. Peyton Gray got the final out of the 8th. The game was tied so neither guy got a hold. After taking a 4-2 lead they turned to Latz for the 9th. He got an out, allowed a couple to reach and get to second and third on a wild pitch, and gave up a two run single that tied it. He was charged with a blown save but ended up picking up the win after getting out of the inning. They didn't improve the bullpen enough to make a run and tonight it showed. If Latz starts to struggle they would be in huge trouble.

COL: They had a 7-5 lead in the 6th and brought on Brennan Bernardino with a runner on and one out. He allowed a single but got out of the inning picking up a hold. Parker Mushinski returned to the majors for the first time since 2024 and picked up a hold in the 7th. Juan Mejia had allowed his normal two runners while picking up a hold in the 8th. Jordan Romano had the 9th with the same 7-5 lead and couldn't get the job done. He allowed a walk and a single and with a couple stolen bases after each hit the next single tied it at 7-7. He did get out of the inning. Jimmy Herget pitched a perfect 10th and Nick Frasso allowed two runs in the 11th to take the loss. We all knew Romano was gonna blow one eventually but I would expect that he remains the closer here. They don't have much else.

TBR: They were down for most of the bullpen innings and used everyone but Wells and Roycroft. Kelly got two outs in the 9th and one in the 10th. Garrett Cleavinger got the final two outs of the 10th without allowing the ghost runner to score and picked up a win. They took the lead 9-7 and turned to Bryan Baker in the 11th. His fastball was still around 95 but he was able to get the job done and pick up the save. He leads the league in saves and has been great all year. I still like Cleavinger for holds and we will see where Wells fits in prior to the 9th.

ARI: They were down and it was a blowout but they used a couple key guys. Paul Sewald pitched the 7th without issue. I cant see him getting the job back but getting something out of him will be important. Jonathan Loáisiga pitched the 9th and allowed a run. They were down 8-4 at the time. Torey with a lie about him being the closer so hopefully you didn't fall for that BS. If you had been reading these you wouldn't have. I like Brandyn Garcia as the closer even though he is the only lefty and I think Ginkel is next in line with Morillo as the deep sleeper.

CWS: With the team down 4-0 in the 9th Seranthony Domínguez made his debut. He looked just like he did in Chicago allowing for runs and getting pulled before the inning was over. They booed him and I really don't think he will offer much in terms of help for here. He certainly wont be replacing any of the high leverage guys.

Follow me @GettheSave9th and subscribe to the lab.

LOADING LAB DATA...