Bullpen Notes
Daily notes from around the league
LAB REPORTS
Bullpen Notes🗒️(7/5)
NYM: They spent most of the game with a couple run lead. Brooks Raley pitched the 7th and Luke Weaver pitched the 8th. Neither guy had any issue and they both picked up holds. They blew the game open in the top half of the 9th so they had a 10-3 lead and brought on Huascar Brazoban. He managed to get one out while allowing five runs and making it a 10-8 game. Devin Williams came on and got the last two outs but allowed a run and picked up the save. Nothing is easy these days for the Mets but the main guys all pitched well enough to remain in their roles.
PIT: Mason Montgomery pitched in the 5th and got out of a bases loaded jam allowing just one inherited run to score which tied the game. Mattson pitched the 6th. Gregory Soto pitched the 7th with the game tied and returned for the 8th after they blew the game open. He allowed a solo homer and picked up the win. Dennis Santana pitched the 9th with a larger lead. They currently don't have a closer. Montgomery has been used as the fireman and Soto has been pitching out of the 9th. That should leave Santana but he has been awful. All three guys remain in the mix depending on how the game is going matchup wise.
WSN: The starter got hurt so the bullpen had several innings to make up. PJ Poulin pitched in the 5th and allowed a couple runners to reach but got the two outs needed. Orlando Ribalta had the 6th and had no issues. Brad Lord pitched the 7th without issue but as expected they let him pitch in the 8th and he ended up giving up five runs and taking the loss. Justin Lawrence ended the 8th and gave up a couple in the 9th but the game was out of hand at that point. Beeter is the best option but rarely sees the 9th and Ribalta and Poulin could also see chances.
CIN: They finally had a lead late and we got to see how the bullpen would look with Pagan in the 9th. Brock Burke had the 7th and Tejay Antone pitched the 8th. Neither guy allowed a runner to reach and they both picked up holds. Pagan had the 9th with a 3-1 lead and struggled. After two walks and a single he allowed a sac fly but managed to get out of the inning without more damage. He picked up the save which was his first since returning. I'll chalk this up to working off the rust but keep an eye on him going forward. He might not be fully healthy yet.
MIN: They had a big lead but Gomez hadn't pitched in a couple days so they used him in the 9th. He let the first two in but got out of it allowing only a run. He remains the best option to close games but they seem to prefer a committee.
NYY: New fan darling Paul Blackburn pitched in the 5th and allowed both inherited runners to score but none of his own. This continues his bump up in leverage. Camilo Doval got burned by another error and allowed a couple more runs. After that no one else of importance pitched. They still have a lot of bullpen issues that they need to get cleaned up.
CWS: They had a 7-6 lead going into the 7th and turned to Trevor Richards. He got through the 7th and got an out in the 8th before allowing a single and being pulled. He picked up a hold. He has been pitching very well and has moved up in leverage. Sean Newcomb walked the first guy he faced but got he next five out and picked up a hold. Taylor had the night off after pitching three innings in the last three days. Right now it seems like a committee with Taylor and Newcomb but with both guys being able to go multiple innings we are likely to see others get the occasional chance.
CLE: They used most of the bullpen. Colin Holderman ended up taking the loss after he started the 6th and put all three he faced on. Erik Sabrowski got out of the inning but allowed one run to score which was the difference in the game. The rest of the bullpen put up zeros but they couldn't rally. No change in roles for anyone.
CWS: Pretty average day until Webb got into the game for the bullpen. Ryan Rolison got out of the 5th but put a couple on in the 6th before being pulled for Tyler Ferguson who allowed a three run homer to the first batter he faced. That put them down 3-2 and Ferguson was charged with a blown save. Drew Pomeranz pitched the 7th and let one batter on in the 8th. They gave him the win even though the Cubs took the lead in the 6th. Jacob Webb who hadn't pitched in several days allowed Pomeranz's runner to score in the 8th but nothing else. That made the game 6-4 and after allowing a leadoff walk in the 9th Webb got the next three outs to pick up the save. Webb is the closer here and they are a good enough team for him to see some save chances.
KCR: They finally picked up a win and had a decent bullpen day. Matt Strahm, John Schreiber, and Daniel Lynch had the 6th, 7th, and 8th. Schreiber allowed an unearned run but the other guys had no issues. Alex Lange pitched a perfect 9th for the save. Lange continues to be a very solid closer but they don't produce enough chances for him. He could be on the move a the deadline but if not he is the closer.
DET: They had a 6-2 lead going into the 8th. Drew Anderson came on and allowed a homer to make it 6-3. He only threw 11 pitches but didn't come out for the 9th. Kenley Jansen did and he picked up the save with no issues. On one hand I am surprised they didn't let Anderson go two as that had been the pattern but it was nice to see Kenley get the chance. I want to believe they will use the bullpen like this going forward but that would be a change from the last two weeks.
HOU: I pretty much say it everyday but King in the 8th and Hader in the 9th is as good as it gets right now. Okert picked up a hold getting one out in the 6th and three in the 7th. King allowed a hit but picked up a hold in the 8th and Hader walked a guy but got the save. Add King if you need holds.
SFG: After complimenting Dylan Smith yesterday as the 8th inning man he blew the save in the 8th today. He put a couple guys on and allowed a three run homer. Sam Hentges got out of a little jam in the 7th to pick up a hold. He has been very good since returning. Both guys are risky on a team that struggles to win but offer holds value and are almost certainly available.
COL: Brennan Bernardino pitched in the 6th allowing a run. He isn't closing as he has one save all year which was last week. Jimmy Herget pitched the with the team down 6-4 against the middle of the order. Victor Vodnik had the 8th and put a couple guys on but picked up the win after they took the lead. In somewhat of a surprise they turned to Jordan Romano in the 9th with a 7-6 lead. He allowed a two out single and picked up the save. Honestly I'm not shocked about this. I would have thought it would take another appearance or two but with how bad the bullpen has been Romano had a path to the 9th. I still think Herget is the best reliever they have but now I think we have a little duo here with him and Romano. I certainly wouldn't be excited about adding Romano but he is in the mix for saves until he inevitably melts down.
MIL: Anderson had the 5th and got a couple outs in the 6th before Drew Rom came in and got the final out picking up the win. Aaron Ashby struggled in the 7th getting an out but loading the bases before he was pulled for Abner Uribe. Uribe got a groundout that scored an Ashby run and got out of the inning. He pitched the 8th allowing a leadoff walk but getting a hold. Ashby was credited with a hold as well. Trevor Megill pitched the 9th and allowed a one out walk before picking up the save. It wasn't a great night but the bullpen got the job done and they are all locked into their respective roles.
MIA: The starter Eury Perez was perfect though seven before being pulled (check out @NichoRoessler write up about his outlook for the ROS). Lake Bacher started the 8th but let all six batters he faced reach with five of them scoring. Michael Petersen came on to get out of the inning and picked up a hold. They tacked on a run to make it 9-5 and used Pete Fairbanks in the 9th. He was pretty awful and allowed three runs though one was unearned. This is why I say you hate to see closers in for non-saves. Despite the struggle Fairbanks remains the closer here.
ATH: I wouldn't read too much into today about the bullpen usage since they were down the whole time. They haven't been winning so I think that is why they emptied the main guys out. Mason Barnett pitched the 4th, 5th and started the 6th but allowed a couple solo homers before being pulled. Sterner finished the 6th and had a runner thrown out at the plate that saved him from allowing runs. Harris had the 7th, walked a guy, and hit a guy before getting out of that. Medina allowed 4 guys to get on base but a double play kept his runs at zero in the 8th. Alvarado pitched the 9th and let three guys reach with one crossing the plate. That run ended up being the difference in the game. No idea who closes here right now. Between them not winning or even having leads everything seems fluid. Harris the best option but Barnett, Alvarado and maybe others could be in the mix.
LAD: Kyle hurt us in the 7th. Yes Kyle Hurt allowed four runs and that extended the game from 1-0 to 5-0. A three run homer did most of the damage. With Stewart back and Edgardo Henriquez pitching much better Hurt cant afford to have many outings like this. He is already a drop in most leagues.
SDP: They managed to finally beat the Dodgers and end an eight game losing streak. Yuki Matsui and Bradgley Rodriguez got through the 6th and Rodriguez allowed a run in the 7th but both picked up holds. Adrian Morejon had a four run lead for what was left of the 7th and the 8th but allowed a run in the 7th. Mason Miller pitched the 9th with a 5-2 lead and picked up the save. He was perfect getting a strikeout and a couple flyouts. If they can start winning again Miller will start seeing more chances in the 9th.
BOS: Big bullpen game as the starter left in the 3rd. Weissert was the first in and got them to the 5th. New stud Tyron Guerrero got through the 5th and 6th without issue and picked up a hold. Garrett Whitlock pitched in the 7th getting the 9, 1, and 2 hitters out. Justin Slaten pitched the 8th and allowed a couple hits and a run which made the game 7-4. That allowed Aroldis Chapman a chance at a save in the 9th. He allowed a solo homer but ended up putting the game away. The bullpen has been good all year and if they keep winning it might not be broken up just yet.
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