Bullpen Report: August 6, 2019

It’s been a rough ride recently for the Cubs in regards to injuries. Craig Kimbrel landed on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation backdated to August fourth throwing the high leverage innings in flux. It seemed like Steve Cishek and his seven saves this year could be primed to close in the interim, but his usage on Monday night, nor performance, does not indicate he’s atop the bullpen hierarchy. Cishek entered with a four run lead in the top of the eighth inning serving up a lead-off double to Jurickson Profar before recording a strikeout of Chris Herrmann. Pinch-hitter Nick Martini hit a two-run home run off Cishek followed by a solo-home run by Marcus Semien. Cishek issued a walk to Robbie Grossman before being lifted.

When Brandon Kintzler entered the game, beat writer Jesse Rogers mused it could require Kintzler to record the last five outs. Kintzler struck out Matt Chapman, yielded a single to Matt Olson and induced an inning ending ground-out by Mark Canha. But, walking off the mound, Kintzler reached for his right pectoral muscle. He did not return for the save chance in the ninth. This will be a situation to monitor since Kintzler’s been the Cubs best reliever of late. He owns a 1.44 ERA since May 21st spanning 28 games. Kyle Ryan took over in the top of the ninth with a one-run lead giving up a hit and a walk while getting two outs. He did not register the first save of his career giving way to David Phelps to face Marcus Semien, who already homered twice in the contest. Phelps notched his first save this year on a long fly-out to left-center field ending the game. However, for the Cubs bullpen, the intrigue only begins with Kimbrel out, Pedro Strop still on the injured list and Kintzler’s status unknown going forward. A dark horse if anything happens with Kintzler could be Rowan Wick, not listed in the chart but he’s been very effective of late in high leverage.

Attempting to bolster the bullpen at the trade deadline, Atlanta’s new relievers continue to struggle. Chris Martin suffered his third loss this year, and first with his new team coughing up a two-run walk-off home run to Miguel Sano in Minnesota last night. It’s unique to see Martin’s allowed nine home runs and only four walks this year. Knowing Shane Greene’s rough start with the Braves, it will be interesting to see who the team goes to for the next save chance. Under the radar, Mark Melancon logged a clean eighth inning striking out two on Monday evening. He’s not been scored upon over his last nine outings in 10.2 innings. Not suggesting Melancon will get the next save chance, but, he’s a veteran arm to track as the season progresses depending on usage.

Trevor May benefits with his fifth win as a result of the Sano blast. May recorded his first full scoreless inning since July 12th, working two scoreless giving up a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. He also recorded a pitch at 99.8 MPH on the radar gun in this outing. Tyler Duffey suffered his first blown save letting an inherited runner score on a hit in the seventh inning. Ryne Harper gets credit for his 10th hold despite yielding two hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out one.

Amidst reports of Seth Lugo potentially getting save chances going forward, it came to fruition in Game 2 of the Mets doubleheader. Lugo fired two clean innings with two strikeouts for his second save. Over his last 14 games, Lugo’s tossed 15.2 scoreless innings giving up only three hits and one walk with 19 strikeouts. This sample also includes a win and two saves. New York’s riding the momentum to Wild Card contention and Lugo could play a pivotal part in it. Edwin Diaz logged a scoreless ninth in Game 1 walking one and striking out two. However, his 6.76 ERA since April 29th and six losses hint the Mets could continue to use him in lower leverage moments in an effort to get him back on track. Stay tuned.

Holding on for his 25th save, Josh Hader stranded a runner in the eighth inning striking out Elias Diaz. In the ninth, Hader yielded a two-out double to Bryan Reynolds then a triple to Starling Marte before ending the game on a Josh Bell pop-out to shortstop. In his first outing since last Thursday, Hader once again allowed an earned run and given up at least a run in three of his last four appearances. He retains value as a closer due to his strikeouts (98) in 53.2 innings but owners will need his 2.68 ERA to migrate slightly towards his 2.51 xFIP to maximize value down the stretch. Freddy Peralta allowed two hits, three earned runs and two walks in his two-thirds of an inning along with yielding runs in four straight outings. Drew Pomeranz could be moving up in the bullpen hierarchy soon tossing a scoreless inning giving up two hits with three strikeouts. As a reliever this year, Pomeranz has logged 7.1 scoreless innings with a robust 13:1 K:BB, 0.88 xFIP, 0.55 WHIP and .130/.167/.174 slash line against.

One day removed from a Ken Giles appearance, Derek Law converted his second save working 1.1 clean innings with a strikeout in Tampa Bay. It’s Law’s second save in as many outings and he’s in the midst of eight straight scoreless contests. As for the frustrated Giles owners, he last appeared in consecutive games between July second through the fourth but has appeared in only five games since. When healthy, Giles owns a 1.50 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 36 innings but if he does not get save chances in his limited usage, his value takes a hit. Justin Shafer recorded his third hold working around a hit and a walk in 1.1 scoreless and Tim Mayza gets his 15th hold retiring one batter.

Last, but not least, the Orioles used Mychal Givens in the top of the seventh in a tied game. Givens finished his 1.1 scoreless outing giving up a walk and striking out one. Paul Fry took over in the eighth coughing up a home run to Mike Ford ceding the lead. A single by Brett Gardner preceded a strikeout of Austin Romine, but Fry allowed a second home run to Mike Tauchman putting the Yankees up by three runs while recording only one out. Due to recent usage patterns, it appears Givens continues to work outside of the ninth inning so his opportunities for saves could be dwindling. For saves chasers, Shawn Armstrong could be the target for Baltimore but it’s a fluid situation. As for the Yankees, Aroldis Chapman locked down his 30th save walking one and striking out three. Chapman’s reached 30 saves in back-to-back seasons and seven times in his career. Will this be the year he reaches 40? Zack Britton recorded his 23rd hold with a scoreless eighth inning giving up a walk and striking out one. Adam Ottavino gets his fifth win with a clean seventh inning and a strikeout prior to the Yankees rally in the eighth. Ottavino’s yet to give up a run to an American League East opponent this year.

Quick Hits: During Game 2 of the Marlins doubleheader, Jarlin Garcia tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts…Brandon Workman notched his eighth save giving up a hit and striking out two. He’s only given up one home run all season and not allowed one to the last 128 batters he’s faced. However, both Matt Barnes and Nathan Eolvadi served up a home run in their outings leading up to Workman’s save…Save number 22 for Raisel Iglesias retiring the only hitter he faced via strikeout. David Hernandez worked the top of the ninth with a five run lead before yielding a two-run home run to Brian Goodwin and putting another runner on with two outs necessitating Iglesias to take over…Alex Colome gave up a run on a hit and a walk. He’s allowed four runs his last three outings but only one being earned…Jose LeClerc recorded his seventh save working around a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. His last three appearances yields a win and two saves. Jesse Chavez gets his eighth hold with a clean eighth inning striking out one…Just when it seemed safe to trust Blake Treinen, he implodes. Treinen allowed four hits leading to four earned runs including two home runs against versus the Cubs en route to his fourth loss…Hector Neris returned to the mound for the Phillies working a clean ninth with a strikeout in a non-save appearance…Sean Doolittle preserved a shutout win with a clean ninth with a four run lead. Fernando Rodney gets his eighth hold and Daniel Hudson his ninth leading up to Doolittle last night.

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee
Bullpen Report — 8/6/2019
Team Closer First Up Second Up Minors/DL
ARI Archie Bradley Yoshihisa Hirano Yoan Lopez
ATL Shane Greene Chris Martin Mark Melancon
BAL Shawn Armstrong Paul Fry Mychal Givens Nathan Karns
BOS Brandon Workman Matt Barnes Nathan Eovaldi
CHC Brandon Kintzler Steve Cishek David Phelps Craig Kimbrel
CWS Alex Colome Aaron Bummer Evan Marshall
CIN Raisel Iglesias Michael Lorenzen Amir Garrett
CLE Brad Hand Adam Cimber Nick Goody
COL Scott Oberg Jairo Diaz Wade Davis
DET Joe Jimenez Buck Farmer Trevor Rosenthal
HOU Roberto Osuna Will Harris Collin McHugh Ryan Pressly
KC Ian Kennedy Tim Hill Scott Barlow
LAA Hansel Robles Ty Buttrey Cam Bedrosian
LAD Kenley Jansen Pedro Baez Joe Kelly
MIA José Quijada Jarlin Garcia Tayron Guerrero Ryne Stanek
MIL Josh Hader Freddy Peralta Drew Pomeranz
MIN Taylor Rogers Sergio Romo Tyler Duffey Sam Dyson
NYM Seth Lugo Edwin Diaz Justin Wilson
NYY Aroldis Chapman Zack Britton Adam Ottavino Dellin Betances
OAK Liam Hendriks Blake Treinen Joakim Soria
PHI Hector Neris Nick Pivetta Juan Nicasio Adam Morgan
PIT Felipe Vazquez Kyle Crick Francisco Liriano
STL Carlos Martinez Andrew Miller Giovanny Gallegos Jordan Hicks
SD Kirby Yates Andres Munoz Craig Stammen
SF Will Smith Tony Watson Reyes Moronta
SEA Anthony Bass Sam Tuivailala Corey Gearrin Austin Adams
TB Emilio Pagan Nick Anderson Oliver Drake Jose Alvarado
TEX Jose LeClerc Jesse Chavez Brett Martin Shawn Kelley
TOR Ken Giles Derek Law Justin Shafer
WSH Sean Doolittle Fernando Rodney Daniel Hudson Roenis Elias

 





Avid fantasy baseball player and writer. You can find my work here chasing the next save or as the lead fantasy analyst on Fantasy Alarm. Any questions, hit me up on the Twitter machine, @gjewett9

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Jimmy von Albademember
4 years ago

I think you meant Semien had homered twice in the contest and faced Phelps, not Davis.