Aroldis Chapman helped your ratios again last night, striking out a pair in his inning of work. Sure he didn’t garner a save, but sweet fancy Moses did he look good. Jeff Brantley is on the shelf, so don’t roster him. Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless top of the ninth, helping my Scoresheet team, but doing nothing for your saves category. Kent Tekulve missed the game when the wind blew his hat down the street and he had to chase it. He has glasses, so his vision is already compromised.
Jeff Manship has pitched almost 40 innings and has an ERA under 1.00. I’m guessing you haven’t rostered him, and I don’t blame you! He did go 1.7 last night, striking out a pair and only giving up a solitary baserunner. What did you do last night? Jeff Manship is on Cleveland.
Tom Henke and Duane Ward were unavailable last night, so Brett Cecil and Roberto Osuna paired up to strike out three Rays in the ninth.
Arodys Vizcaino lowered his ERA again last night and firmed up his grasp on the Braves closer role for 2016. Don’t be shy about keeping him if you’re in a deep league, he’s likely going to be earning saves in Georgia next year. Hopefully in Atlanta, not Gwinnett. John Rocker is nursing a sore hammy and is unavailable this weekend.
Shawn Tolleson pitched his fourth day in a row on Friday for the first time ever. Well, probably not ever, but at least in documented history. The Rangers are in the first inning as this is being written, but maybe Keone Kela sees a save opp today? Joe Smith picked up his fourth save though, and if the Angels get saves the next couple days, he’s the guy, as Greg Minton is down with a bum being old.
David Robertson struck out two as he saved his 34th of the year Friday night. Bobby Thigpen was probably enjoying being retired at an early age. I could probably look him up and see what he was doing, but I’d prefer to just think he was saving more important things than baseball games. Like his money?
Wade Davis emphatically saved his 16th game for the Royals on Friday. Mark Davis was unavailable for comment. Well, maybe he was available, I just didn’t bother reaching out. And even if I did, like he’d talk to me!
Michael Feliz was tasked with protecting an 18-run lead on Friday and he didn’t disappoint. The Astros walked away with a win, even though Feliz gave up a pair of runs . He struck out two and let four batters reach base. A couple of them scored. This Feliz won’t help your ratios.
Dennis Eckersley was dealing with a body issue and was unavailable, so Sean Doolittle ripped a save on Friday night and Ryan Dull held the nuts out of that game.
Thanks for reading my nonsense this year. I’m just a small part of the bullpen report machine, but this is my last outing of the season. I apologize for costing you hella skrilla, but I tried my best. Sweet winter dreams y’all. There will be a bullpen report on Sunday to get you through the winter!

Closer Grid:

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]

It’s the last Wednesday of the regular season and Adam Wainwright pitched in relief! He’s not going to crack the grid, but it’s sure nice to see him return.

Brad Boxberger picked up his 40th save of the year. That moves him into a tie with Huston Street, whose groin will not permit him to pick up another save this year. The Box could have the most saves in the AL. With an ERA well north of 3.50. He’ll be closing the rest of the season if you need some saves. Jake McGee is there if he gets tired, so don’t sleep on him. He’s probably lumpy anyway.
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The Astros bullpen continued their lackluster past month or so, as Luke Gregerson nearly blew it on Saturday against the Rangers. He gave up three runs on four hits and needed Will Harris to record the final out of the game. The Astros bullpen was rocking a 6.32 ERA in the past 30 days heading into Sunday’s play, second worst in the majors, better than only the Braves. Yes, it’s a small sample size, and it’s not like one guy is dragging down the group, they’re all to blame. Harris has been the best of the bunch, so if there are any changes, he may be next in line for a save or two. It doesn’t look like usage is to blame for the struggles of the group, as the Astros relievers have pitched the fourth fewest innings in the majors. Harris got the eighth on Sunday, with Gregerson bouncing back nicely to record his 29th save.

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Mark Melancon picked up his 51st save, and his fourth in the last six days. The Pirates will want him closing games while they still have a shot at the division, and bear in mind that they’re still trying to wrap up home field in the wild card game. If they find themselves clinching one or the other, maybe he gets a rest to be fresh for October. The next guys in line, Tony Watson and Joakim Soria have been used heavily as well. I would not be the least bit surprised to see Joe Blanton pick up a garbage save late in the week if things are decided. Otherwise, Clint Hurdle is going to ride those three hard right to the last day.

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Tonight’s bullpen report is going to be a wrap up of the last two nights of action.

Freddy Galvis bombed one off of Jonathon Papelbon on Monday night, and for all the vitriol spewed at Papelbon, it was only his first blown save of the year. It put him in line for the win, which he got when the Nats pushed one across in the 11th inning. Doug Fister, yes, Doug Fister, picked up the first save of his career. It was his first outing in 13 days. He’s not cracking the grid at this point.

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Mike Scioscia called on Huston Street for a third consecutive game, and he was not able to hold a three-run lead against the Astros, as the roof caved in and he surrendered five runs, all earned including a pair of homers. Joe Smith and Trevor Gott were strong, earning their 32nd and tenth holds respectively. Street sat 89.9 with the sinker, and generated four whiffs from the 13 of them that he threw. The pitch that Jed Lowrie hit out appeared to be a change that Street left up and in. Just an awful spot for a changeup. The ball just landed beyond Kole Calhoun’s outstretched glove, as he appeared to get hung up on the wall on his jump. You know Street will be back out there the next time the Angels need a save, unless it’s in Seattle tomorrow as he’s pitched three days in a row. Joe Smith has also pitched three days in a row, so Fernando Salas would be next in line if an opportunity arises tomorrow.

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Guess who leads the league in holds? Tony Watson! He held his 36th tonight. Guess who leads the league in saves? Mark Melancon! He saved his 45th tonight. The back end of the Pirates bullpen has paid dividends for you if you held on to Melancon through his early season struggles, OR if you picked up Watson in hopes he’d get the closer gig. The Pirates pen has the third best ERA in the majors for 2015, trailing only the Royals and Cardinals. Yes, there are other measures, but the Pirates pen has definitely been stout. Joakim Soria has only brought a 13.4% K%-BB% to the table since he came aboard at the trade deadline, but he has seven holds after tonight.

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Sean Doolittle hit 95 mph on Sunday afternoon! His velo has been steadily increasing since he came back. They were trailing, but Drew Pomeranz was tasked with the eighth, and Doolittle had the ninth. It looks like he’s inching closer and closer to reclaiming the closer gig for the A’s. This could be the week that he gets some save opportunities. Ryan Dull kept up his strong debut with a perfect seventh, notching two more strikeouts. He’s someone who can help you with ratios and maybe grab you the odd hold. He doesn’t have any yet, but he’s looking good. Tom Wilhelmson needed 24 pitches to get five outs and his tenth save for the Mariners.

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According to Chelsea Janes, Drew Storen is rocking a strong 6.11 ERA in the eighth inning of games this year. He gave up a run to the Braves in the eighth inning on Friday, allowing them to tie the game at two. Storen has a 6.32 ERA since the acquisition of Jonathan Papelbon pushed him from the closer role to set-up duties. His 25.4% K%-BB% is still strong, better than his 24.3% that preceded the trade. The 85.1% LOB% differs quite a bit from his 37.0% since he was bumped. His velo isn’t off from earlier in the season. His 3.40 FIP since the transaction is well off from the 1.99 he sported as the closer. He’s obviously not going to be the closer down the stretch for the Nats, barring an injury to Papelbon of course, but I still think he’s someone who could help you with holds and strikeouts in the final month of the season. The Braves lost their 17th of 18 and is their closer really relevant at this point? After Fredi Gonzalez exploded on Thursday afternoon and said that any of his pitchers who were feeling fatigue should “just suck it up”, Arodys Vizcaino had his first outing of the year of more than an inning. He threw 28 pitches, recorded five outs, but also surrendered three hits, a walk and the tying run. Papelbon got the win after twirling two scoreless innings(after being brought in in the ninth down a run!) and Michael Taylor hit a three-run shot off of Brandon Cunniff in the bottom of ten. Vizcaino is still the Braves closer, and if they ever lead a game again, he’d get to protect it.

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