Bullpen Notes 6/24/26
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes 6/24/26
TEX: They were down 2-1 going into the 8th but Cole Winn allowed a couple runs. He has been awful since returning from an elbow issue. If you still roster him he can be cut.
MIA: John King was the 1st out of the bullpen and picked up the win pitching in the 5th and 6th. Anthony Bender got through the 6th and pitched the 7th getting a hold. Michael Petersen was back in the 8th and he picked up a hold. He had three strikeouts and I still believe he is sneaky holds option. Pete Fairbanks pitched the 9th with a three run lead. He allowed a leadoff homer but no other damage. That is two outings in a row allowing a run but he is the closer on this team with little threat to his job.
NYM: They played two games against the Cubs today. They were down in both games so the bullpen guys didn't record much other than outs. Brooks Raley did end up with a loss in game two allowing two runs in the 6th. Not much else to see here as Williams remains the a mid option at closer. He did allow three runs in an 8th inning but they were all unearned.
CHC: They were up in both games but extended the lead late in both games. A bunch of guys picked up holds but no saves. Thielbar was one of the guys who picked up a hold in the 7th of game one. Rolison had a hold in the 6th of that game as well. Webb did pitch in the 9th of game two so I think it is time to call him the closer. I don't believe he has a strong hold on the job but he should see the next save chance.
CLE: Rare bad day for the bullpen. Erik Sabrowski started the 7th with a 2-0 lead and let the 1st two he faced on. He got the next two out but allowed a run on a sac fly. They pulled him for Holderman who got the last out and both guys picked up holds. They had a 3-1 lead in the 8th and Hunter Gaddis who let a couple on and got a couple out before being pulled for Herrin. Herrin got the last out and both guys picked up holds. In they 9th they turned to Cade Smith with the same 3-1 lead. He got the 1st two guys out before allowing back to back homers that tied the game, a single and a walk later he was pulled for Armstrong. Smith was charged with a blown save. Armstrong got the final out in the 9th and loaded the bases in the 10th before getting two outs without allowing a run to pick up the win. I am concerned about Sabrowski as he has struggled since retuning from the injury. Just a bad luck blown save for Smith so no concern there.
CWS: They were down until the 10th inning so they used most of the low leverage guys. Joe Rock allowed the only run in the bullpen prior to the 10th. They turned to Grant Taylor in the 10th and while he didn't pitch poorly he allowed the ghost runner to score. A couple seeing eye singles did him in. Taylor hasn't been as dominant this last week and the back of the bullpen remain in turmoil. I am still waiting to see who they give the next save chance to and I feel like it will be Bryan Hudson.
BOS: Gross bullpen game for the Sox. Tyron Guerrero got burned by an error which ended allow three unearned runs to score. The error would have ended the inning with just one runner on. A couple singles later they pulled Guerrero for Coulombe who allowed another run scoring single before getting the final out with the game now tied at 6-6. Justin Slaten pitched the 8th and he allowed a couple runs. Three of the first four hitters had singles and a guy scored on a sacrifice bunt. Slaten is getting close to a drop in deeper leagues. His saving grace is that he likely wont be traded so if he gets right he could be the closer Aug 4th.
COL: Prior to the game they put Jaden Hill on the IL. He had picked up the last two saves. Antonio Senzatela came in with the team down 6-3 in the 7th. He was really just pitching a work outing but he got through the 7th and pitched the 8th. They had the lead by the time he was done and he picked up the win. Jimmy Herget pitched the 9th and picked up the save. With Hill on the IL he jumps right into the mix at closer. I would expect him to see the next chance even though this save was against the bottom of the lineup. He is the best single inning pitcher in the bullpen.
LAA: Another team that was down for most of the game. The important news was they tied it going into the 9th and let Bachman pitch the bottom of the inning. I would say it is safe to assume he is the top option here for saves. Zef and Yates are lurking if he blows his chance.
BAL: They had the lead for most of the game and things were going fairly well until the 8th. Garcia got the last out of the 7th and two outs in the 8th. He did allow a double prior to the two outs and after that an RBI single and a walk before he was pulled for Kittredge. Kitty walked a guy to load the bases and allowed a 2 RBI single (runs to Garcia) that tied the game up at 5. Helsley pitched a clean 9th with the game tied which was refreshing to see. Akin took the loss in the 10th and was hurt by an error. We are at the point were I would probably cut Garcia. I think Wells is the best holds option here and Helsley is the closer.
TBR: Nice bullpen day here as they used Sulser, Kelly and Cleavinger in the 6th, 7th, and 8th. All picked up holds and Sulser allowed the only runner. Baker had the 9th picking up the save. He allowed a homer on a hanging change up. He is still a stud at closer and as I keep saying it is time to add Cleavinger if you are looking for holds.
PHI: The bullpen started slow but finished strong. Kyle Backhus started the 6th and put a runner on before getting two outs. They turned to Jonathan Bowlan who allowed a two run homer to the 1st guy he faced that put them down 4-3. He was charged with a blown save. With the team down José Alvarado pitched the 7th and Seth Johnson pitched the 8th. Johnson ended up picking up the win and it was more of a work day for Alvarado. They ended up taking the lead in the top of the 9th and brought on Jhoan Duran who struck out the side and picked up the save. Duran is the closer obviously and we are still waiting to see who takes over the 8th between Kerkering or Alvarado. With the way its going it will probably be matchup based which hurts a little if you are chasing holds.
WSN: Things went well until we got to the 9th. PJ Poulin got an out in the 7th and pitched 8th picking up a hold. He could see himself back as the high leverage LHP. In the 9th they turned to Orlando Ribalta who got two outs but walked Schwarber who had pinch hit. He ended up with a hold. They turned to Dicky Love to try and get the final out but he allowed a two run homer. Guy hit one foul that was close and crushed one to center ont he next pitch. They should have let Ribalta finish the inning as Lovelady was pitching for the third straight day. Looked like over management to me. Not sure why Varland wasn't used but maybe he has been replaced by Ribalta though they clearly have zero confidence in Ribalta. Beeter was off after going back to back but he is the most likely to get a save. Poulin could replace Lovelady as the high leverage LHP. It still seems like we have a big committee.
HOU: Another nice night for the bullpen. Okert pitched the 7th picking up the win. King had the 8th getting a hold and Hader pitched the 9th recording a save. Add King if you need holds and we all know Hader is a stud closer.
TOR: Disappointing loss for old Jeff Hoffman. He got the final out of the 7th and pitched the 8th. He allowed a one out triple and threw a pickoff away that allowed the run. He isn't getting back into big spots pitching like this.
MIL: The big three had the night off since they had all pitched back to back. That is why you see 5 runs allowed by the bullpen though they still won the game. Patrick picked up the win allowing a run. Anderson and Yoho struggled though the 7th and part of the 8th allowing 4 runs. Joel Kuhnel got the final out of the 8th and all three in the 9th. He loaded the bases in the 9th before getting a game ending double play. All these guys are mid to low level and there is no need to add any of them at the moment.
LAD: Nice night for the main guys in the bullpen. Hurt picked up a hold in the 7th despite allowing two walks. Vesia put a couple guys on in the 8th but got out of that picking up a hold. Scott let a guy on with one out but had no issues after that. All three of these guys could be rostered depending on the format but Scott should be in every format as he is the closer.
MIN: The game was close but they were down and used Banda in the 7th and Gomez in the 8th. Those two are the best they have so maybe it was a work day. They might just enjoying using everyone in the bullpen in all different situations.
SDP: Most of the lesser guys got this one to the 9th. Miller and Morejon had the night off after going back to back. That allowed David Morgan to get an out in the 6th and pitch the 7th. He was great and picked up a hold. Wandy Peralta who started yesterday pitched the 8th picking up a hold. Jason Adam had no trouble in the 9th picking up a save. Adam remains a nice hold option and tonight you got the added bonus of a save.
ATH: The game was tied until the 8th when they took a 1-0 lead. They had used Sterner in the 6th and Harris in the 7th. That lead to Medina getting a rare big leverage spot. Naturally he walked the 1st guy he faced and after a sac bunt walked another. He did manage to get two punch outs after and end the inning picking up a hold. Unfourtuntely the Elvis Alvarado hype train is officially off the tracks and burning. He had the 9th with a 1-0 lead and allowed a leadoff BOMB to Devers. After getting the next two outs he let some rookie hit another shot that ended it. He should be moved from the 9th but it will be interesting to see where they turn. Harris likely gets the next chance but we could see Sterner or Medina. Trust me I am as disapoitnted as everyone else as I think Alvarado has the stuff but he just doesn't have the "it" factor.
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