Bullpen Report: April 26, 2018

• Biggest news from last night has to be in Atlanta where A.J. Minter secured his first save of the year. While many non-closers get a save opportunity from time to time, the Braves manager mentioned “we will see more A.J. Minter in the 9th” which likely places him in a timeshare for saves with Arodys Vizcaino. Minter was damn impressive last year in a small sample, and he was expected to be lurking but with Vizcaino supporting a shiny ERA I didn’t expect any changes to occur any time soon. Obviously that is not the case and one should rush to pick up Minter. We will monitor how the saves are issued moving forward but this looks like a real committee.  A.J. Minter is the south paw, so it’s safe to say he will see saves when lefties are expected in the order, but we will have to wait and see how it develops from there.

•  Strange things are happening  in LA. After not being used in the ninth in a tie game on Tuesday, Kenley Jansen was deployed down three in the ninth last night to the Marlins. Jansen allowed two unearned runs but was otherwise looking good, striking out a pair and flashing fastball velocity more in line with what we have come to expect than the early season concerns. I can’t imagine Roberts is going to use Jansen differently than a traditional closer so this is probably less strange things happening in LA and more just strange usage blip by Dave Roberts. Due to Jansen’s early struggles we’ve exhausted talking about the other options for saves with Josh Fields cementing his role as next in line with Pedro Baez and Tony Cingrani behind him.

• Brad Ziegler finished the ninth inning last night securing the win for the Marlins but it also wasn’t a save situation (as the Marlins scored while he was warming up) and he gave up three runs. In 10.2 innings this year Ziegler has now allowed 10 earned with a 7/2 k/bb and supports a 5.16 FIP. His SIERA is actually a surprising 2.82 but as a 38 year old sidearmer with an ERA approaching 9, one has to wonder how much length is left on his leash. Kyle Barraclough is the assumed best candidate but Drew Steckenrider has been the better pitcher this year with a 1.64 FIP/2.31 SIERA compared to Barraclough’s 3.81/2.16. Steckenrider was unavailable Wednesday with an undisclosed ailment, which could push the needle Barraclough’s way if a change were to happen quickly. Barraclough’s velocity is down this year but his swinging strikeout rate is up and his walks down as well. I would still place him next in the pecking order but both are worth rostering for saves speculation and Steckenrider has been of ratio help this year as well.

• Craig Kimbrel threw a perfect ninth for his sixth save. His ERA now stands at 0.96 but his other indicators are in the wrong direction with a 3.51 FIP/3.10 SIERA. Those numbers are plenty good and he will continue to rack up saves in Boston but he is looking closer like the 2016 Kimbrel than the 2017 version. The main concern would be his fastball at 95.9 mph which was 98.3 last year. It’s still April and we’re judging on 9.1 innings pitched but if his velo doesn’t return and his whiff rate continues to be more pedestrian, his stay as an elite closer could be coming to an end. If you have extra saves to sell with Kimbrel on your team, he’s not a bad guy to try to get value for in case things start to go downhill.

• Houston has been using multiple guys to close, Ken Giles closed his 2nd of the year.  He’s only thrown nine innings this year with two earned and has yet to allow a walk but has a pedestrian 4 strikeouts with a career low 9.6 SwStr% but it’s nice to see him get a save. Chris Devenski threw a scoreless eighth as those two seem to be working well in committee.

• Quick Hits: Andrew Miller left the game with a tight hamstring, he is set to have an MRI and we will let you know if he will miss extended time. Cody Allen got his 5th save in Cleveland and Nick Goody would stand to move up the chain if Miller misses time.Edwin Diaz got into some trouble in his last save chance, although he didn’t allow a run. Threw a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts for his 10th save. Joakim Soria threw in the ninth down a run, suggesting Nate Jones is clearly in the mix and/or lead for saves. Wade Davis allowed a run but also struck out a pair. No save chance as the Rockies got the lead to four in their half of the ninth. Chad Green threw 1.2 innings to secure the win after Sonny Gray couldn’t get through five. He should continue to see multi-inning outings, vulture some wins and rack up strikeouts and ratio help. Aroldis Chapman secured the win with his fourth save.  After some early season concerns of a closer by committee approach in Philadelphia, Hector Neris locked down his fifth save. Other options can certainly factor in from time to time in Philly but it seems like it’s clearly his job to lose.