Bullpen Report: August 5, 2019

The Mets were hardly in need of a closer during Sunday’s 13-2 win over the Pirates, but on a day full of reliever drama, they were the biggest story in terms of closer news. After Sunday’s game, Mickey Callaway said to reporters, “I don’t think we can lock ourselves into one thing,” and in this context, the “thing” was the team’s closer. The incumbent, Edwin Díaz, has allowed at least one run in each of his last four appearances, so that has opened the door for the primary setup reliever, Seth Lugo, to at least enter the saves mix. For now, Díaz and Lugo are listed in the closer grid as co-closers with Lugo designated in the lead role.

While Díaz — one of last season’s elite closers — has had his ups-and-downs throughout the season, two of this season’s best closers faltered on Sunday. Kirby Yates blew his third save in 35 tries in the Padres’ 11-10 loss to the Dodgers, as he gave up Max Muncy‘s walk-off two-RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. Yates was also charged with his third loss, though he may have been spared that fate if not for a fielding error by Luis Urías that allowed Alex Verdugo to be safe at second base on Corey Seager’s fielder’s choice, just before Muncy’s double. The one earned run that Muncy drove in was the first allowed by Yates since June 23 and just the sixth he has allowed all season.

After posting a 1.18 ERA with the Tigers, Shane Greene has now allowed four runs — all earned — in his first two innings with the Braves. Three of those runs came on Tucker Barnhart‘s game-winning three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning on Sunday. In the previous half-inning, Amir Garrett blew a 3-1 Reds lead by coughing up Ronald Acuña Jr.’s two-run homer, so Brian Snitker countered by bringing Greene in for the top of the 10th. (Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen did not pitch in Sunday’s game for the Reds, as both had pitched on Friday and Saturday.)

In both of Greene’s outings as a Brave, he lacked sharp command, leaving pitches out over the middle of the plate, and on Sunday, his average sinker velocity was 90.8 mph, which is more than 2 mph below his season-to-date average. Owners in both daily and weekly transaction leagues may want to stay away from Greene for at least the short term.

Greene is not the only reliever to be dealt at the trade deadline who has struggled with his new club. Sam Dyson has allowed six runs in 0.2 innings with the Twins, and now there is a plausible explanation. The Twins placed Dyson on the 10-day IL on Sunday with right biceps tendinitis. He could return shortly after he spends the minimum 10 days off the active roster. Taylor Rogers, who recorded his 17th save of the season against the Royals on Sunday, should continue to receive the vast majority of save opportunities, though if he needs a fill-in, those duties will probably go to Sergio Romo.

Archie Bradley isn’t saying he is the Diamondbacks’ closer, but he is pitching like he is. He has recorded both of the team’s saves since Greg Holland was removed from the closer’s role, and in both cases Bradley held the opposition scoreless over more than an inning. On Sunday, he tossed two scoreless frames in a 7-5 win over the Nationals. Bradley got only one swinging strike out of 28 pitches, but he tallied 11 called strikes and was the anti-Greene, painting the edges of the strike zone.

For now, I am leaving Bradley as part of a committee with Yoshihisa Hirano and Yoan López, but he has easily been the most effective reliever in Arizona’s bullpen of late. In fact, Bradley has not allowed a run over his last 11 appearances covering 14.1 innings.

The Orioles are listed as having a committee, too, but it’s less clear if a single reliever will emerge as the team’s primary closer. Three different relievers have split the last four ninth-inning save opportunities, but two of those belong to Shawn Armstrong. The latest of those came on Sunday, when Armstrong was called in to pitch the top of the ninth inning against the Blue Jays with a 6-5 lead. He had to work around a pair of singles but notched the save in getting all three outs via strikeout. The outing extends a nice run for Armstrong, who has allowed one run over his last 6.2 innings with a 16.1 percent SwStr%, 48.3 percent Zone% and 31.2 percent O-Swing%. While the Orioles may not present many save opportunities, Armstrong is still someone to consider in formats where saves are scarce on waivers.

Though he pitched with the Blue Jays down by a run, it’s worth noting that Ken Giles (elbow) threw a scoreless inning. In making his first appearance since July 27, Giles yielded only a walk to Stevie Wilkerson.

Quick hits: Roberto Osuna (25) and Liam Hendriks (11) recorded saves on Sunday…The Nationals placed Roenis Elías on the 10- day IL with with a right hamstring strain…Chad Green, Tyler Chatwood and David Hernandez each recorded their second save of the season. Chatwood pitched the final three innings of the Cubs’ 7-2 win over the Brewers. Green and Hernandez were called on to close with their team’s respective closers getting rest after recent heavy workloads…Brandon Brennan (shoulder) is on the verge of returning to the Mariners’ bullpen. He has not pitched since June 13 but had recorded six holds and a 13.7 percent SwStr% before going on the IL…The Rockies placed Carlos Estévez on family medical emergency list on Sunday…Andres Munoz began his major league career with seven scoreless appearances, but that streak ended on Sunday. He was charged with two runs in the Padres’ loss to the Dodgers, but Munoz was still credited with his third hold.