Bullpen Notes
8/14
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(8/14)
CHC: Ryan Rolison came in for the 7th with a 3-0 lead, two outs, and a runner on first. He got the final out and Ryan Zeferjahn had the 8th. He let a couple reach but no one scored and both guys were credited with holds. Jacob Webb pitched the 9th and allowed a lead off single but no runs. He picked up the save. Right now we are just waiting to see what they do when Palencia returns. Webb has been great in the 9th so it is hard to see them removing him but when Palencia has been active he has closed. I think Webb has done enough to keep the job but we will see. Zef likely would slide out of the 8th and lose a lot of his value.
CIN: The starter got through the 7th and in the 8th they turned to Brock Burke who struck out the side and picked up a hold. Emilio Pagán was back today so the sore hand appears to be okay and he pitched a perfect 9th picking up a save. He faced the top of the order and it was a 1-0 game. Pagán continues to pitch very well since the end of June and as long as they are winning Burke is a low end holds option.
PIT: The had a lead though it was never a save situation but we did get a look into the bullpen usage. Gregory Soto pitched the 6th with a 7-2 lead against the middle of the order and walked a batter. Camilo Doval had the 7th and like he normally does with the slightest amount of pressure gave up a run. Luke Weaver pitched the 8th with an 8-3 lead and was perfect against the middle of the lineup. Kirby Yates got a couple outs in the 9th to start the inning but allowed a three singles and a run and was pulled for Mason Montgomery who got the final out. I have to mention that Montgomery was up in the 7th when Doval was in trouble. If Yates and Doval can pitch the middle innings that would be huge for Weaver's chances to close. Right now I don't think there is any question that Soto is out of the mix. Weaver and Monty are the guys who should see the saves. Soto is a decent holds option.
CWS: Bullpen game that saw Sean Newcomb start and get the first four outs. Jose Urquidy got them through the 5th and they had an 8-3 lead. Huascar Brazoban allowed a lead off single in the 6th and returned for the 7th where he allowed a homer, triple, and RBI groundout. With the score now 8-5 they turned to Grant Taylor. He needed 18 pitches to get the next five outs and got the game to the 9th inning. They had tacked on a run so it was 9-5 and Bryan Hudson finished off the game. No surprise to see Taylor as they were treating this as a must win. I would expect he wont pitch tomorrow but should be available on Sunday. Really pretty much anyone in the bullpen could see the save chance if they have one tomorrow. This has become the most frustrating bullpen in the league mainly due to the usage of Grant Taylor.
TBR: Bullpen game with Matz starting. Scholtens, Booser, and Wells got them to the 7th with the score 2-2. They brought in Garrett Cleavinger who faced three batters and allowed two of them to reach. Kevin Kelly came in and got the final two outs but allowed a single that scored two Cleavinger runs. Cleavinger would be charged with the loss. Chris Roycroft pitched the last two innings and allowed two more runs. Cleavinger has struggled lately but he is still a solid option for holds. Kelly is as well and Baker is the closer.
BAL: Josh Walker got the final two outs of the 6th and ended up picking up the win. With a 4-2 lead in the 7th Andrew Kittredge came on to face the 9, 1, and 2 hitters. He allowed a one out single but got through the inning. Rico Garcia had the 8th with a 6-2 lead and allowed just a two out walk. Yennier Cano started the 9th but struggled. He allowed four of the six he faced to reach and two of them scored. With the game 6-4 Cam Sanders came in a intentionally walked a batter before getting the final out and picking up the save. The usage was odd since we haven't seen Kitty in the 7th in some time. They still love using Rico Garcia too late in the game and while tonight wasn't a save Cano is always an adventure in the 9th. I still think Kitty is the best option for saves but all year when Helsley has been hurt they have never really stuck with one guy in the 9th. Cano would be option number two.
CLE: They were down and used most of the guys in the bullpen outside of the big two and Sabrowski. Colin Holderman gave up a couple runs in the 7th. He has been very good so far this year.
SDP: With a 7-4 lead in the 7th they went with Yuki Matsui. He allowed a one out walk but picked up the hold. Jeremiah Estrada pitched the 8th and allowed a lead off double which would come around to score on a wild pitch. He also picked up a hold. In a surprising move Bradgley Rodriguez pitched the 9th and he allowed a lead off double but was able to keep the run off the board and protect the 7-5 lead. He picked up the save. After the game they announced it was just a night of for Miller and I assume Morejon as well. They were both off last night but have been on a steak of every other night appearances. As of now there is nothing to worry about here and Miller, Morejon, and Estrada are the guys to roster.
WSN: Jake Bird still sucks and now the fans of this organization are learning that. He allowed a couple runs in his inning of work.
NYM: Nate Lavender got a couple outs to close out the 5th. Jonathan Pintaro pitched the 6th and 7th and got a big double play in the 6th which got him out of that inning. He ended up getting the win. Daniel Duarte pitched a perfect 8th with a 4-1 lead and picked up a hold. Kodai Senga was back for the 9th and he got a couple quick outs before making it interesting by allowing a single and hitting a batter but got out of it and picked up the save. We have the clarity we need here and Senga is the closer while Duarte is the 8th inning man. I would go out and add both if you need help in those categories because right now the Mets are hot. I do think Senga can succeed in the 9th since he is mostly using his fastball and forkball and has had a little up tick in velo. Just going to come down to control and if he has the mental fortitude which he has so far.
ARI: With a 1-0 lead in the 8th they went with Juan Morillo. He allowed a lead off single but battled through the inning and picked up the hold. They tacked on a run and used Brandyn Garcia in the 9th. He got through the top of the lineup and was perfect picking up the save. Garcia was up when Morillo gave up that single to start the 8th. With Justin Martinez likely returning tomorrow we could see a duo develop. I doubt they use JMart right away in the 9th but this seems like a situation that could be very similar to the Angels with Joyce and Natera. The big difference is Garcia is the only lefty in the bullpen here. I think JMart will end up with the most saves on the team the ROS.
TOR: With a 2-1 lead they used Tyler Rogers in the 7th. He allowed a two out single and returned to get the first batter out in the 8th. Mason Fluharty came on and got the two lefties out to close out the 8th and both guys picked up holds. With a 3-1 lead in the 9th Louis Varland was perfect and picked up the save. They stay hot and Varland and Rogers are the guys to roster for saves and holds.
SEA: They were down for a majority of the bullpen innings today. Rucker, Speier, and Bazardo pitched 4.1 innings without allowing a base runner. Barardo's 9th was with the game tied while the rest were with the team down. They took a 7-5 lead in the 10th and brought in the closer Andres Munoz. He almost got out of it but with two outs and a 7-6 lead he allowed a single, another single, that scored a run and tied the game, and a three run dong that ended it. The ball was absolutely crushed and Munoz was charged with a blown save and picked up a loss. Seems like just when we start talking about how good a guy has been he has an outing like this and it was at the worst possible time for the team. Munoz is still the closer and Bazardo is the best guy for holds.
HOU: Bennett Sousa pitched the 6th with a 5-2 lead and allowed a run. Steven Okert pitched the 7th and allowed a single but got an inning ending double play. Both guys picked up holds. Bryan Abreu pitched the 8th with a 5-3 lead and walked a couple both of which came around to score. He was charged with a blown save which was somehow only his first of the year. Hader got through the 9th with the game tied allowing a couple batters to reach. In the 10th Enyel De Los Santos allowed the ghost runner to score on a triple and another guy to score on a single after but he would pick up the win. The trouble for Abreu is concerning but it's only one outing. The bullpen remains the same with Hader as the closer and Abreu and Okert as the best options for holds.
KCR: Jose Cuas got an out to get out of the 5th with the game tied. Alex Lange pitched the 6th and allowed a solo dong that put them down 6-5 but they would rally and he would get the win. John Schreiber was perfect in the 7th with a 7-6 lead against the meat of the lineup and picked up the hold. Nate Pearson pitched the 8th without issue and picked up a hold. Steven Cruz had the 9th and did allow a hit but ended the game by striking out Trout on ball that was close but a little up. They continue to use Cruz against the tougher part of the lineup which doesn't always fall in the 9th. Tonight it did and I still think Cruz is the best option for saves but Pearson is in the mix when Cruz pitches the 8th.
TEX: The bullpen was awful tonight. Chase Silseth gave up a solo dong in the 6th with the game tied. He would end up with the loss. Robby Ahlstrom, Tyler Alexander, and Marco Gonzales would finish off the game with Ahlstrom and Alexander allowing one run and three. None of the guys who pitched should be rostered in normal or holds leagues.
ATH: We saw the very rare close game where they needed to use the bullpen. Luis Medina got the final two outs of the 6th and two in the 7th and he picked up the win. Drew Rom got the final out of the 7th with a 4-3 lead and one out in the 8th before allowing a double and being pulled for Elvis Alvarado who got the final two outs of the inning. Both guys picked up holds. They tacked on a few runs to make it 8-3 and Hogan Harris pitched the 9th anyway. He is the closer and the only guy you should roster from this team.
LAD: Well they did what they said they were going to do with a lead. Evan Phillips was perfect in the 7th with a 3-1 lead and picked up a hold. Tanner Scott had the 8th and allowed a two out single but picked up the hold. Edwin Díaz was back for the 9th and it wasn't pretty. He hit one batter and walked two which loaded the bases with two outs but they stuck with him and he got a groundout to short to end the game. He picked up the save. They said they would stay with him in the 9th and they were true to their word. Diaz remains the closer though he wont last with outings like this and Scott is option number two despite the lack of public confidence in him from the manager.
COL: The starter went eight and they tacked on a run to make it 5-1 going into the 9th. Brennan Bernardino was called on to pitch and he allowed a run and got a great double play on a catch and throw out which really saved the game. Bernie is the holds guy here and Romero is the closer. Roster if you dare.
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