Bullpen Report: April 21, 2019

Apologies on a belated and brief Bullpen Report but let’s get to the main takeaways from yesterday and a tad from today…

• It wasn’t so long ago that it felt like Blake Parker was making Minnesota a non-committee but last night Taylor Rogers threw a two-inning save in the first leg of  a doubleheader and then recorded his 3rd save of the year in today’s outing. Rogers struck out five yesterday but struggle a tad in today’s save, allowing three baserunners and a run. The Trevors May and Hildenberger set up today’s game in the 7th and 8th respectively and Blake Parker wasn’t used in any of the games. Yesterday we were told he was under the weather so that could explain his absence but Rogers and Hildenberger have also been more effective than him this year. This is still a committee with Parker at the top but his margin for error is certainly small.

• Last night in Philadelphia, Seranthony Dominguez pitched a scoreless 7th with Pat Neshek starting the 8th inning. Neshek struggled, allowing three hits and two earned while only recording one out. Hector Neris was then brought in getting the last 5 outs for his 3rd save of the year. While Neris was assumed to be a part of a committee, he is starting to firm himself atop the committee and maybe breaking it all together, at least while David Robertson is out. I won’t change the tag below yet but it’s worth noting Neris’ effectiveness of late. On the year Neris has a 1.86/2.27/2.30 ERA/FIP/xFIP line and of late and hasn’t allowed a run since his first appearance in March. Neris has been given this opportunity before and given it right back so I will temper expectations but with Robertson out, Dominguez not pitching great, Neshek struggling today, and Adam Morgan being a lefty, his chances of continuing to get saves looks promising.

• Ryan Brasier got the save last night with Matt Barnes setting him up, which is becoming somewhat routine in Boston. Yandy Diaz hit a homer off of Barnes in the 8th but he otherwise struck out the side. This afternoon, Barnes pitched in the 8th again and gave up a solo shot to Tommy Pham while striking out two batters, blowing his 2nd save of the season. The Red Sox took the lead in the 11th and Brasier got his 6th save. In spite of the recent homers allowed, Barnes is still the better option in Boston with a 2.89/2.77/0.60 ERA/FIP/xFIP and 19 strikeouts in 9.1 innings but Brasier continues to be used more primarily as closer. This is still a committee, with Brasier in the lead, but if his ERA jumps closer to his peripherals, things could change.

• Quick Hits: Raisel Iglesias struck out the side for his 4th save last night. He’s been a bit up and down to start the year but he’s thrown three straight perfect innings with 9 strikeouts. His 12.2% BB% would be a career high but so would his current 41.5% K%. Anthony Swarzak got his third save last night for the Mariners, allowing a run in the process. Like many a mediocre closer, he finds himself atop a committee. A.J. Minter recorded his 2nd save of the year, striking out the side in a perfect frame. Minter has been bad since returning from his shoulder injury but his velocity is improving and there aren’t any other legitimate options behind him. For a closer not pitching particularly well his job is very safe and if he can return to his older form he should be one of the better closing options in fantasy when you consider how many teams are in a committee. Jose Leclerc struggled mightily with four walks tonight and Shawn Kelley was used for the final out. Leclerc has a long leash but he also has a 7.88 ERA and 7 walks in 8 innings. Velocity hasn’t been an issue so his struggles likely aren’t injury related and more the fact that he’s always had bad control.