Bullpen Report: April 24, 2018

With so many bullpens remaining clouded due to slow starts or poor performance, Cleveland’s blueprint went according to plan closing out the Orioles on Monday night. Andrew Miller worked two-thirds of an inning giving up a hit and striking out one. Then Cody Allen entered to strikeout the side en route to his fourth save of the season.

Oddest save of the night goes to Chris Beck of the White Sox. He worked 2.2 innings allowing six hits and two earned runs with a strikeout. It’s the first save of his career and it feels dirty.

Not to be overlooked, Cincinnati dusted off Raisel Iglesias using him to retire the last four batters with a strikeout for his third save of the year. Although the Reds prefer to use Iglesias in a more traditional closer role in one inning appearances, two of his three saves required him to record four outs. It’s a shaky bridge getting to him, so perhaps the team realizes a non-traditional role like last year will be necessary.

Keynan Middleton worked for the third straight day notching his sixth save. He did allow a lead-off single and a walk, but recovered with two strikeouts and a walk-off umpire review resulting in a caught stealing. Middleton’s been solid as the Angels closer. It will be interesting to see who gets the save chance Tuesday with Blake Wood landing on the disabled list.

No more speculation on who backs up Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers closer received Monday night off with his velocity starting to bounce back. Enter Josh Fields who worked a scoreless ninth giving up a hit but no other damage for his first save this season. Another arm to track in this bullpen, Tony Cingrani. Cingrani’s pitched 8.1 innings so far with 15 strikeouts, no walks, a 64 percent ground ball rate and a minuscule 0.48 WHIP.

Bounce back performance by Hunter Strickland who recorded his fourth save giving up a walk with two strikeouts against the Nationals. There’s reports about Mark Melancon starting a throwing program, however, until he starts a rehab assignment, there’s no timetable for his return.

Quick Hits: It’s only April and the Texas bullpen’s in shambles. Over the last four games, the Rangers relievers have allowed 18 runs in 14 innings, yielded a home run in each of these contests, 25 hits, nine walks, a blown save and three losses. Keep tabs on Blake Treinen who’s been used heavily to start the season. According to the television crew last night, Treinen was not available for the save. Fortunately, the Rangers bullpen made it possible for him to rest. Marlins reliever Tayron Guerrero lit up the radar gun in Los Angeles. He’s turned in five straight scoreless outings with 13 strikeouts, five walks and two hits allowed in 5.1 innings of work. Speaking of Marlins, Kyle Barraclough took the loss giving up two hits and the go ahead run to the Dodgers in the eighth inning.