Bullpen Notes
8/18
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(8/18)
NYY: Great night for the bullpen. Yerry De los Santos pitched the 5th and 6th and picked up a win. Headrick started the 7th and let two on before getting two outs and Cruz got the final out of the inning. Blackburn pitched the 8th and walked a batter. All three of those guys picked up holds. David Bednar was perfect in the 9th picking up the save. Bednar is the closer but the rest of these guys who pitched after De Los Santos have some value for holds but I would say Headrick is currently the best option.
PIT: We finally got a look at the team with a lead late in the game. The starter went 8 and they used Mason Montgomery in the 9th. There were a couple lefties coming up but it was also the meat of the order. The lead off batter reached on an error and he got the next three out to pick up the save. Despite the lefties coming up I do think it is safe to call Monty the closer. We could always see some matchups with Weaver in the 9th but it feels like Monty has a leg up here.
MIA: Bullpen game so don't read to much into it. Gibson started and was followed by Zuber and Ekness. They got into the 5th inning allowing one run (Gibsons) and Petersen got the final out. Petersen would return for the 6th and got crushed by the meat of the order. He would be charged with 4 runs and a blown save. Phillips who has been starting and Faucher finished off the game. Outside of Fairbanks who closes these guys can pitch all over the place. I hate bullpen games and wish they would just use Petersen in the 8th but despite todays meltdown he is the best option for holds.
PHI: The bullpen was short handed with Duran and Bowlan resting after back to backs. Alex McFarlane pitched the 6th and gave up an unearned run but got the win. José Alvarado had the 7th and picked up a hold. Orion Kerkering pitched the 8th, his third day in a row and threw away a grounder that allowed an unearned run to score. At the time that made it a 5-4 game and he picked up a hold. They put another run on the board and Brooks Raley pitched a perfect 9th to pick up the save. Duran is the closer and the rest of the bullpen is in flux with all of these guys having a chance to claim the 8th.
STL: They went into the 6th with a 1-0 lead and turned to Stanek who was perfect and picked up a hold. He faced the top of the lineup so this usage made some sense. Graceffo pitched the 7th and he allowed a lead off walk but nothing else. In the 8th they went back to Soriano who was perfect. Both guys picked up holds. In the 9th with a 3-0 lead Riley O'Brien faced the meat of the order and retired them with no issue. He picked up a save. This is the group of guys who see the big innings and I do think Stanek is currently the best option for holds while Soraino earns our trust back.
ARI: Jonathan Loáisiga got three outs in the 5th but allowed an inherited runner to score. That put them down 6-4. Kevin Ginkel had the 6th and allowed a lead off dong and another run. Taylor Clarke gave one up in the 7th that made it 9-4 and in the 8th we saw the return of Justin Martinez. He was a bit wild walking and hitting a batter but most of his stuff was at or above 100. Like I have been saying he should see a couple innings outside of the 9th to get acclimated. He should eventually be in the mix for the closer spot if he doesn't take it over completely. Garcia is the closer for now but his time is limited.
BOS: Tyron Guerrero was the first in for the 6th and pitched the 7th. It was close at the time and he picked up a hold. Erik Miller pitched the 8th with a 9-4 lead and Wyatt Olds had the 9th. I'm surprised they went with Guerrero that early but I still think him and Miller are the best options for holds here. Greg Weissert could also be in the mix. Chapman is the closer.
SDP: Bradgley Rodriguez started the 7th with a 4-1 lead and allowed two batters to reach. Adrian Morejon came on and got the final two outs to keep the score as is. Morejon would return for the 8th and allow a lead off homer and two more to reach but he got out of the inning. Both guys picked up holds. Mason Miller was perfect in the 9th. Interesting to not see Estrada tonight so hopefully it was just a night off. I would have expected him over Rodriguez. Miller is the closer and Morejon is the best option for holds.
ATH: Brady Basso worked as the opener and Jack Perkins came in after him. They would get the game to the 7th inning without allowing a run. Drew Rom started the 7th and allowed a couple doubles that scored a run while getting one out. He was pulled for Luis Medina who got out of the inning with the score 3-1. Medina would return and walk three guys in the 8th but he got a double play to limit the baserunners. Hogan Harris came on to get the final out after allowing a hit. Harris returned for the 9th and got an out before loading the bases. He would allow a single that tied the game before being pulled for Elvis Alvarado who got an out and allowed another hit that ended the game. Harris was charged with three runs (1 unearned), a loss, and a blown save. This is one of the problems that you have when the closer is trying to get four outs. Rom had fixed this a bit but he wasn't able to get through his inning and that forced Medina in early and Harris as well. Harris is the only guy I would roster and he is the closer.
MIN: Kody Funderburk got the final out of the 6th with a couple guys on and the score 2-1. They went with Andrew Morris in the 7th against the lower part of the lineup and he was perfect. A.J. Minter pitched the 8th against the top of the lineup and had no issue. He was facing a couple of lefties so that made sense for him in this spot. All three of these guys picked up holds. Yoendrys Gomez was back for the 9th with a 4-1 lead and he allowed a lead off double but didn't allow a run picking up a save. Gomez continues to impress and Minter is slowly making his way towards the 8th as a holds option. Morris and Minter are the guys you want to roster if you are chasing holds.
WSN: They were down but used Yovanny Cruz in the 8th. He allowed a single but nothing else. It was just a work outing so nothing to be worried about here. Beeter is still the best option for saves with Cruz in the mix.
LAA: The starter went 7 and in the 8th they went with Jose Fermin. He allowed a lead off dong that made it 3-1, gave up a single, and got an out before being pulled for Ryan Watson. Watson got Alvarez and Paredes out to end the inning. Both guys picked up holds. Ben Joyce pitched the 9th and was perfect with a couple strikeouts. He picked up the save. Not using Natera is the big news here since Alvarez is the guy you want to use him against. He clearly wasn't available so we have to wait and see why. With no Natera Joyce is the closer and no one else is even threatening him. Go out and add him if you can.
CHW: Bryan Hudson started since the Cubs have some lefties at the top of the lineup. He would allow two runs to score both on homers. Erick Fedde got the game into the 6th inning and left with two outs, two on, and a 3-2 lead. Huascar Brazoban got out of that inning but returned for the 7th and walked two batters. With the top of the lineup coming up Grant Taylor came in and allowed a single that scored a Braz run before getting out of the inning. Taylor got the blown save and Braz got a hold. There was about an hour and thirty minute rain delay so with the game tied at 3-3 in the bottom of they 8th they used Trevor Richards who was perfect. He would return for the 9th and allowed a lead off double that came around to score with two outs. He picked up the loss. Even without the rain Taylor wasn't getting nine outs. They tried to have Braz get them to the 8th but he couldn't. That would have set Taylor up to get six outs which he could have. Newcomb is expected to start tomorrow but Taylor should be able to pitch. The closer role remains open so tune in tomorrow.
CHC: They were down or tied for most of the bullpen innings. Javier Assad did the bulk work getting them from the 5th into the 8th without allowing a run. Caleb Thielbar came on in the 8th with the score 3-3 and one out. He got out of the inning allowing just a single. With the game tied in the 9th Jacob Webb allowed a two out walk but got out of the inning. He would pick up the win which was his second in as many nights. Palencia is expect to be activated in the next couple days so it remains to be seen how they will use him, Webb, and Zef. At this point Webb has made a strong argument to remain in the 9th.
COL: Jordan Romano pitched the 9th with the team down 7-5. He allowed one runner to reach but no one scored. He hadn't pitched for five days so it wasn't surprising to see him in the game. He is closer and he is the only guy to consider rostering here.
LAD: Edwin Diaz was placed on the IL prior to the game with a neck issue. Jack Dreyer pitched the 6th with a 7-4 lead and allowed a two out walk while picking up a hold. Edgardo Henriquez pitched the a perfect 7th and picked up a hold. Evan Phillips started the 8th and the first three reach with a run scoring before he got a couple outs. He was pulled for Tanner Scott but would end up picking up a hold. Tanner Scott got the final out of the 8th and he returned for the 9th. He allowed a one out double and a two out single that scored a run and made the game 7-6. He would get the final out and pick up the save. Scott is back in the 9th and Vesia and Henriquez are the best options for holds.
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