Bullpen Notes
8/9
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(8/9)
CIN: They were down 3-1 in the 7th when they went with Brock Burke. He allowed a lead off single that would come around to score. In the 8th with the score 4-1 Tejay Antone let the first three reach before allowing a run on a fielders choice and two more on a double. These are the two main holds options here and they both struggled in what was a work day.
BOS: Bullpen game and Erik Miller was the starter. He allowed an unearned run in the first after he made a throwing error. Brayan Bello pitched the next four innings allowing a run. with a 3-2 lead Tyron Guerrero pitched a perfect 6th and Jovani Moran pitched a perfect 7th with both picking up holds. Garrett Whitlock had the 8th and allowed a lead off single and that runner would score on a two out double that tied the game at 3-3. Whitlock was charged with a blown save. Aroldis Chapman pitched the 9th with the game tied and allowed a two out single and a double that scored a run to put them down 4-3. He was charged with a loss. Unfortunately the bullpen was due for a game like this. They have been on such an incredible streak that it was going to happen. Chapman is still a great closer and Whitlock is the best option for holds since he is the 8th inning man. They do have several other guys who record holds.
ATH: Brady Basso pitched the 7th with the team down 3-2 and was perfect. Elvis Alvarado pitched the 8th and was also perfect. He would pick up a win after they took the lead in the top of the 9th. Hogan Harris pitched the 9th and allowed a lead off single and walk but got the final two outs to pick up the save. Harris is the closer here and he is the only guy I would roster. Alvarado and Medina are risky holds options.
NYY: They were down 1-0 in the 8th when they used Kervin Castro. He pitched a perfect inning. In the 9th with the game tied 1-1 they went with Paul Blackburn who was perfect. He returned for the 10th and allowed a lead off single that scored the ghost runner and wound up being charged with the loss. They were short in the bullpen with Bednar and Headrick likely resting after pitching back to back. Blackburn continues to be very good and with Cruz struggling he could find his way into some holds opportunities and high leverage spots.
ATL: Dylan Dodd had the 7th with a 1-0 lead and he got a couple outs sandwiched between a walk to pick up a hold. They pulled him and Didier Fuentes got the final out and returned for the 8th. Fuentes got the first two in the 8th but allowed a solo dong that tied it and was charged with a blown save. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect 9th and would end up picking up a win. After taking a 2-1 lead they used Tyler Kinley in the 10th. He got the bottom part of the order out without allowing the ghost runner to score and picked up the save. Kinley had taken a loss in the 10th on Friday so this was a nice bounce back. No Lee today but maybe they wanted to give him an extra days rest. Iglesias is the closer and Lee is the 8th inning man with Fuentes the next best option.
PIT: The starter got mauled so the bullpen had to cover 6 innings in a blowout. Soto and Monty both pitched since they really haven't see much action this last week. Feels like the closers spot is Weavers with Monty being his main competition. Until we see them with a lead in a close game we wont know what the plan is.
TOR: They were down until the 8th and used Little and Miles. After tying it at 5-5 they went with Tyler Rogers in the 8th and he loaded the bases but got out of the inning. Mason Fluharty pitched the 9th against the middle of the order. Braydon Fisher the 10th and 11th and didn't allow the ghost runner to score in either inning despite three walks. They threw a runner out at the plate to end the 11th which saved the game. They had a 6-5 lead in the 12th and went with Lazaro Estrada for the third day in a row. He couldn't get the job done today as he allowed a single that tied it and another single that ended it. Varland had pitched two innings yesterday so it was no surprise to not see him. Varland and Rogers remain the guys to roster in this bullpen.
PHI: The starter got through the 7th with a 5-2 lead and they went with Orion Kerkering in the 8th. He was facing the top of the order and did not have any success. He allowed three singles and a double and ended up giving up three runs and being charged with a blown save. With the game tied Jhoan Duran allowed a lead off walk in the 9th but nothing else. Mayza and Raley got them through the 10th and 11th without allowing a run. They pretty much had to use Caleb Kilian in the 12th and he allowed the ghost runner to score but picked up a win when they rallied in the bottom of the inning. Kerkering can no longer be trusted here so Bowlan gets a little boost. They need to figure out things prior to the 9th fast if they want to be a playoff team. Kilian got hurt in the 12 and is going to miss some time.
MIA: They continued the annoying use of Michael Petersen using him in the 5th with a 4-2 lead. He picked up a win at least. They blew the game open and used Zuber, Faucher, Vodnik, and Ekness. Fairbanks is the closer and I would still roster Petersen as the holds guy though Faucher will probably give you a similar return.
CLE: This turned into a bullpen game after a rain delay when the 1st inning ended. Craig Yoho allowed four runs in the 3rd when he came on with two outs. Couple walks, a double, and a three run dong that made the score 5-2. He was charged with a blown save and picked up the loss. They used Holderman, Sabrowski, Gaddis, and Smith to finish the game. Herrin had pitched prior to Yoho who was the only guy who gave up any runs. Don't read too much into this for anyone besides Yoho who might be on his was back to the minors.
CWS: As stated before it turned into a bullpen after a delay going into the second. The bullpen was actually great and they didn't have Taylor available. Hagen Smith got the win pitching in the 2nd and 3rd. Sean Newcomb and Huascar Brazoban got through the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings both picking up holds. Bryan Hudson and Jordan Hicks pitched the 7th and 8th with each allowing two out singles but picking up holds. Trevor Richards pitched the 9th and allowed a couple walks and a run that made the game 5-3. They had to get up Tanner McDougal but Richards got out of it and picked up the save. Grant Taylor had pitched last night and two innings Thursday so clearly they didn't want to use him. This remains the problem with him as the closer. We're getting back to the stage where pretty much anyone could pick up a save but the only guy worth rostering is Taylor. Just add him and hope they feel like waiting until the 9th before they bring him in.
CHC: They won in a blowout but Ryan Zeferjahn pitched the 8th. I just want to point out that Daniel Palencia should be back this week and that could result in a change in the late innings. They really haven't used Webb as the exclusive closer so I would expect he moves back into the 8th inning while Palencia takes the 9th. That would be bad for Zef as well as he would move into the 7th.
MIN: The game was tied at 3-3 when Tommy Nance entered with a runner on. He allowed a single and but no runs to score. A.J. Minter put a couple guys on in the 7th and returned for the 8th getting one batter out. Andrew Morris finished off the 8th getting two outs and walking a batter. Morris would return for the 9th and walk a batter before being pulled for Kody Funderburk who finished the inning. They went with Yoendrys Gomez in the 10th and he intentionally walked the first batter, struck the next guy out, and allowed a single that scored the ghost runner and ended the game. Tough loss for Gomez as it was the ghost runner scoring. He is still the closer and Morris is the 8th inning man with Hoffman somewhere next.
MIL: With the game tied at 3-3 in the 7th they went with Aaron Ashby who loaded the bases but didn't allow a run. Abner Uribe had the 8th and also loaded the bases before getting out of it. Trevor Megill was perfect in the 9th and sent the game to the 10th. DL Hall prevented the ghost runner from scoring in the 10th and he would pick up the win. Megill and Uribe are the guys to roster and Ashby and Senzatela offer some low end holds value as well.
STL: Justin Bruihl got out of the 6th and pitched a perfect 7th picking up a hold. George Soriano pitched the 8th with a 4-3 lead and allowed a solo homer to the lead off batter. He would allow a couple more to reach before getting out of the inning. He was charged with a blown save but picked up the win. Riley O'Brien pitched the 9th and was perfect picking up a hold. ROB is the closer and Soriano continues to slump. He probably shouldn't be rostered at this point. Stanek isn't great but he could be the better option for holds.
BAL: It was a blowout but they did use Andrew Kittredge in the 7th. Nothing to worry about as they just wanted to get him a work inning. Him and Cano remain locked in a battle for closer.
SFG: Dylan Smith pitched a perfect 9th with three strikeouts in a 1-1 game. Sam Hentges started the 10th and allowed two singles while getting an out. He was charged with two runs including the ghost the runner and took the loss. Jason Foley finished off the inning with the score 3-1. Smith is the closer here and should be added if you need saves.
DET: Kyle Finnegan came on for the 7th with a 1-0 lead and a runner on first with no outs. Finnegan got an out but a runner advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher after a guy stole second. Finnegan would allow an infield single that scored the run which was charged to the stater and unearned. Finnegan picked up a blown save. Drew Sommers got the final out of the 7th and pitched the 8th. Kenley Jansen pitched the 9th with the game still tied at 1-1 and he would pick up the win. With a 3-1 lead in the 10th Tyler Holton was on and he was perfect picking up the save. Kenley is the closer here and the rest of the bullpen is pretty suspect for holds.
ARI: Taylor Clarke pitched the 8th with a 4-2 lead. He allowed a lead off single but the next guy hit into a double play. He would pick up a hold. Kevin Ginkel pitched the 9th and had no issue. He was hitting 98 which was pretty impressive for him. Garcia had pitched back to back nights so he was unavailable. It is hard to tell if we are moving towards a committee or duo here but it doesn't shock me that Ginkel is getting chances since he is a Lovullo favorite. I would still roster Garcia for saves but Ginkel could be worth adding if you need holds and possibly saves. When Justin Martinez is back he could add a whole new element to the bullpen.
SEA: Jose A. Ferrer got out of the 5th but allowed a couple runs in the 6th. He hasn't lived up to expectations and shouldn't be rostered. Eduard Bazardo got five outs in the 7th and 8th. He has been slumping as well but is a decent holds option. Munoz is the closer but the chances have not been very frequent lately.
TBR: The big three had the night off so they used some of the lesser guys. Cam Booser was perfect in the 7th and allowed a base runner in the 8th before being pulled for Casey Legumina. Legumina had no issues pitching against his former team and both guys picked up holds. Steven Matz pitched the 9th hitting a batter and seeing a man reach on an error but he didn't allow a run and protected the 4-1 lead. He was credited with a save. None of these guys are worth adding as the main guys had the night off.
SDP: They had a 4-2 lead in the 6th when Kyle Hart came in. He pitched a perfect inning and picked up a hold. Bradgley Rodriguez pitched the 7th and 8th was also perfect in both innings. He picked up a hold. They had a 5-2 lead at the time. They took a 7-2 lead and turned to Jeremiah Estrada in the 9th. Somewhat surprising as that was now the third time in the last four days he has pitched. I guess they are trying to make up for the lost innings from earlier in the season. Miller is the closer and Morejon and Estrada have pretty equal holds value.
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