Bullpen Notes
8/7
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(8/7)
PHI: They were down for the bullpen work today but Caleb Kilian allowed another run. After that mauling the other day he can be cut since they have 4 others guys better in the bullpen.
TOR: Bullpen had a nice night with Varland resting. Mason Fluharty got an out in the 5th with a couple on. Lazaro Estrada pitched the 6th and got an out in the 7th. He allowed a walk in each inning but picked up the win. Brendon Little got the final two outs in the 7th but also walked the bases loaded. Matt Waldron pitched a perfect 8th with a 5-2 lead. Both Waldron and Little picked up holds. Tyler Rogers was called upon in the 9th. He walked the bases loaded and let a couple score but battled through it all to pick up the save. He made a nice play covering first to get the final out. Varland is the closer and tonight is why I say Rogers shouldn't close but he can certainly be rostered for holds.
PIT: They were down 6-2 but they finally used Weaver in the 9th. He was pitching against his old team and allowed a hit and a walk. Weaver and Monty are the guys to roster here and we'll see if one becomes the closer.
NYM: The bullpen had a 6-0 lead and slowly gave some of it away. Dedniel Nunez pitched in the 6th but returned for the 7th and allowed two runners to reach. Jefry Yan came in and allowed both inherited runners to score. He got the last out when they threw a guy out at the plate. Daniel Duarte pitched the 8th and allowed a two out hit. Devin Williams returned from his brief stint with arm soreness and gave up a couple runs in the 9th. They had a 6-2 lead when the inning started. Williams is the closer and right now Duarte looks like the guy to roster for holds.
WSN: Could we finally be seeing some structure here? The starter got into the 7th but allowed the first two batters to reach. Yovanny Cruz came on with a 5-3 lead and got the next three outs despite walking a guy to load the bases. Orlando Ribalta pitched the 8th and both of those guys picked up holds. With the score still 5-3 Clayton Beeter pitched the 9th against the bottom part of the order. He was perfect and picked up the save. This is all good news for Beeter. They didn't use him in the bigger inning which was either the 7th with guys on or the 8th with the middle of the order up. Maybe adding Cruz was the extra depth they need. I would say add Beeter for saves but he is still going to be one of the riskier options in the game.
ATL: Didier Fuentes pitched the 7th in a 0-0 game. They took the lead and used Dylan Lee for the 8th. He allowed a couple walks but got through it picking up a hold. With a 2-0 lead in the 9th Raisel Iglesias came on and he did not pitch well. He allowed an infield single between two outs and then a double that plated a run, a walk, and a single that tied it. He hit the next batter to load the bases and was pulled for Dylan Dodd who got the final out. Iggy was charged with a blown save. They couldn't plate the ghost runner in the 10th and Tyler Kinley loaded the bases with one out before allowing a sac fly and taking the loss. Iggy is still the closer here but he has struggled this last month or so. They really need Suarez back and he could take over the 9th if needed. For now Iggy is still a strong option and Lee and Dodd are good for holds.
NYY: Fernando Cruz got two outs in the 7th and returned for the 8th. He allowed a lead off homer which put them down 1-0 and got an out. Brent Headrick came on and allowed a couple singles but got the final two outs of the inning. Tim Hill gave up a solo dong in the 9th to make it 2-0 and Yerry De los Santos got the final out of the inning. After they tied it David Bednar pitched the 10th and didn't allow the ghost runner to score. He would pick up the win. The bullpen is still strong with Headrick picking up the slack for Cruz who has struggled. Bednar is one of the best in the game at closer.
MIA: Michael Petersen was the first in for the 5th and got an out in the 6th with the game tied at 1-1. He allowed a walk in both innings. Josh Ekness got out of the 6th and returned for the 7th with a 2-1 lead. He should have been out of the inning but made an error. He ended up being charged with three unearned runs. Calvin Faucher and John King finished the game. Fairbanks is the closer and I would like to say Petersen is the holds guy but they have been using him in all innings of the game.
LAA: Tayler Saucedo was charged with a run in the 6th after pitching the 5th. Shaun Anderson allowed the run but got the final out of the inning and he picked up the win. Blake Weiman allowed a couple hits in the 7th but picked up a hold. Ben Joyce pitched the 8th allowing a two out single and picked up a hold. Jose Fermin pitched the 9th with a 4-2 lead and got two outs before allowing a run that made it 4-3. He then allowed a looper over third but the left fielder threw the guy out at the plate to end it and get him the save. Natera had pitched in two innings last night so it isn't shocking that he didn't pitch. When Joyce is ready he should replace Fermin but Natera could still be in the mix. Natera and Joyce are the guys I would roster.
BOS: Raymond Burgos picked up a save. They had used everyone yesterday and he was a callup to give the bullpen some innings. The game was a blowout and he pitched the final three without allowing a run.
MIL: Antonio Senzatela pitched the 6th with the game tied at 6-6. He got two quick outs but allowed back to back doubles, and single that scored two runs and put them down 8-6. He was charged with the loss. Bryse Wilson pitched the final three innings allowing one hit. Senzatela has been used for single innings since the trade and despite tonight's rough outing I think he could still be a low end holds guy.
MIN: Tommy Nance started the 6th with an 8-6 lead. He allowed a single and got the next two outs before being pulled for Minter who faced the lefty and got him out. Both guys picked up holds. Jeff Hoffman pitched the 7th and looked like Jeff Hoffman. He walked two batters, hit a batter, but also struck out two and didn't allow a run. Andrew Morris had the 8th and put a couple guys on but got a double play to end the inning. With the same 8-6 score in the 9th they went with Yoendrys Gomez and he was perfect picking up the save. This is big for the Gomez people like myself as he and Morris stayed in their roles with Hoffman sliding into the 7th. I would expect it to remain this way until one of the guys blows a lead.
KCR: Daniel Lynch IV started for whatever reason and he allowed four runs in the 2nd. The Cubs have some lefties but it sounds like they might be stretching him out. We'll have to see what happens but it would be a big loss for the bullpen and that really makes Cruz the best option for the 9th. Go out and add him.
CHC: They had a 4-2 lead in the 8th and they went with Caleb Thielbar for the third day in a row. He allowed three hits to the four batters he faced and was charged with two runs. Trent Thornton came on and got the final two outs with a walk mixed in. He also allowed a Thielbar run to score and picked up a hold. They used Jacob Webb in the 9th and he was perfect picking up the save. The good news here for Webb guys was they didn't turn to him to get out of the 8th. He faced the lower part of the order in the 9th. I think Webb is the best option for saves and Zeferjahn is next up for holds and the occasional save.
TEX: Tyler Alexander got two outs in the 6th while allowing a single. He would pick up a win. Robby Ahlstrom pitched the 7th and picked up the hold. He faced the 8, 9, and 1 hitters. With a 2-1 lead they went with Jacob Latz for the final two innings. He allowed a walk in the 8th and got into some trouble in the 9th but they threw a guy out at the plate which turned into the second out instead of tying the game. Latz is a stud but they need high leverage help. One of the other guys needs to step up in the big spots and Gray or Ahlstrom should get the chance.
STL: They had a 3-2 lead in the 6th and turned to Justin Bruihl who pitched a perfect inning picking up the hold. Caleb Ferguson was used in the 7th and he allowed a single. He would return for the 8th and get the only batter he faced out. Ryne Stanek got two outs between a single and both guys picked up a hold. Riley O'Brien had the same 3-2 lead in the 9th and face the bottom of the order. He allowed a lead off walk but got a double play and the final out to pick up the save. ROB is the closer and Soriano who has struggled should be the holds option but Stanek could replace him. Soriano had pitched in three of five prior to this so it wasn't surprising to not see him tonight.
LAD: Edgardo Henriquez pitched the 7th with the game tied at 2-2. He allowed a two out single. They took the lead in the 8th and turned to Tanner Scott. He got two quick outs and then loaded the bases. He ended up striking out Arenado on the 12th pitch of the at bat and picked up a hold. With a 3-2 lead in the 9th they brought in Edwin Díaz who allowed a walk, struck out a batter, and allowed a two run game ending homer. He was throwing pretty hard so velo wasn't the issue. I'm getting concerned here since he really hasn't been great since returning. He should have a long leash though and really the goal is to have him performing at his peak level for the postseason. Diaz remains the closer and Scott is the guy in the 8th.
ARI: Juan Morillo got the final out of the 6th with guys on second and third an a 2-1 lead picking up a hold. They went with Taylor Clarke in the 7th and he allowed a run and three hits to the four batters he faced. He was charged with a blown save. With the game tied and two lefties coming up they turned to Brandyn Garcia who allowed a single but got Ohtani to ground into a double play to end the 7th. Garcia returned for the 8th against the middle of the lineup and allowed a homer to the lead off batter. Kevin Ginkel pitched the 9th with the team down 3-2 and picked up the win after they rallied. This was the fear with Garcia as the only lefty in the bullpen. I still wouldn't worry that much since he was facing the best part of the lineup. I think he still is the best option for saves and Ginkel and Morillo are the guys for holds.
HOU: Bennett Sousa got an out to end the 5th and keep the game at 4-3. AJ Blubaugh gave up two hits and got to outs in the 6th. Steven Okert got the final out of the 6th and allowed a couple hits while getting a couple outs in the 7th. Him and Blubaugh would both pick up holds. Bryan Abreu walked a guy in the 7th but got the final out and returned to pitch a perfect 8th. They gave him the win since he pitched the best in the scorers mind. Josh Hader pitched the 9th and was perfect picking up the save. As I have been saying Abreu is the 8th inning man here and Okert still offers solid holds value as the late inning lefty. Hader is the closer and one of the best.
SEA: They used Seranthony Domínguez with the team down 2-0 in the 9th and he pitched a scoreless inning. He needed that after the mauling the other day. Don't roster him.
TBR: Garrett Cleavinger started the 8th with a 2-0 lead and hit a batter, got an out, and walked a batter. He was pulled for Kevin Kelly who got the next two outs and both guys picked up holds. Bryan Baker pitched the 9th and allowed a solo homer with two outs but struck out the next batter to pick up the save. The guys who pitched tonight are the guys you want to roster here. Baker is a stud at closer despite tonight's earned run.
SFG: JT Brubaker started and allowed a run. Don't be fooled by people saying he will close after picking up that bulk save a few weeks ago. Keaton Winn got two outs in the 7th before walking a guy and being pulled. Sam Hentges allowed a hit but got the final out of the 7th. He would return for the 8th and let two on but got through the inning. Winn and Hentges both picked up holds. Dylan Smith got the 9th with a 5-2 lead and he allowed a two out walk but picked up the save. I said at the deadline he was the most likely to get saves here and now I would say he is the closer. Winn isn't closing so don't be fall for that trap. Hentges seems like the best option for holds but this team doesn't generate many.
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