Bullpen Report: Friday, June 5, 2015

Now is likely the time to pick up Rafael Soriano. The Blue Jays have reportedly been sniffing around him, and while watching the Braves bullpen give up another fistful of runs, you’d think they’d be in the mix as well if the price is right. The Braves pen has the worst ERA in the majors and didn’t help their case on Friday, as they combined to give up six runs in four innings of work. Mark Melancon induced a game-ending double play out of A.J. Pierzynski, but he threw the comebacker into center field to put runners on the corners. He was able to get another game-ending double play, but this time made sure it was hit at an infielder, notching his 17th save.

Everyone’s favorite switch-pitcher, Pat Venditte, made his debut on Friday night for the A’s in Boston. He went two innings, striking out one, allowing only one hit. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how his story plays out, and it’s going to be fun to watch him pitch, but you don’t need to roster him in any format. On the other side of the diamond, the Red Sox held on to their 4-2 lead thanks to a solid two-thirds of an inning from Junicha Tazawa, and then Koji Uehara came on for his 12th save. He did give up two hits. Ten of his 18 pitches were splitters, and three of those were whiffed on.

The Giants bullpen worked together to keep the Phillies down, tossing three scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing three baserunners on a hit and two walks. Hunter Strickland worked his way out of trouble in the seventh. With runners on first and third, he gave up a fly ball to Jeff Francoeur. Justin Maxwell caught it, they couldn’t nab the runner at home, but Ben Revere ran past second, and didn’t re-tag it on the way back to first. The sharp eyes of the Giants went to second and he was called out. So it could have been a tie game if not for the baserunning gaffe by Revere. Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo teamed up to blank the eighth, and Santiago Casilla struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Well, it happened. Dellin Betances gave up his first earned run of the year. When the Yankees took an 8-1 lead into the ninth inning over the Angels, he probably didn’t think he’d be on the rubber for the final three outs of the game. Esmil Rogers didn’t retire a single Angel, so Betances came in and gave up a hit and walked a pair. Other than Rogers allowing five straight batters to reach, here is what has to happen for Betances to give up an earned run. He gave up a single to David Freese. Then he walked Matt Joyce and Chris Iannetta. He struck out Kirk Nieuwenhuis and then got Johnny Giavotella to ground out to short. Both of his walks were on full counts, so both of those at bats could have gone either way. If the grounder to short was hit a little harder, it’s an inning-ending double play. So what I’m ham-handedly trying to say, is that it takes quite a string of events for Betances to give up an earned run. He’s that good. And he only has two saves.

This has to be about it for Fernando Rodney, right? He gave up a solo home run to Logan Forsythe, missing his target by a mile in the process. Carson Smith pitched a perfect eighth and he could be closing games as soon as tonight. It’s going to be interesting to see what the Mariners do with Rodney once they officially give the reins to Smith. Kevin Jepsen notched his third save for the Rays.

Of Note: Antonio Osuna struck out the side for the Blue Jays in a non-save situation to finish off the Astros. Zach Britton notched his 15th save for the Orioles, working around a hit and striking out two in his inning of work. Aaron Barrett, Casey Janssen and Blake Treinen bridged the gap to Drew Storen against the Cubs. Storen had a rare blip, giving up a run on a pair of hits. He did strike out two and gathered up his 18th save. Joakim Soria blew the save for the Tigers, giving up a home run to Adam LaRoche in the bottom of the ninth. David Robertson dominated for two perfect innings, striking out three. Trevor Rosenthal struck out two in a perfect ninth inning for his 18th save. A.J. Ramos came in to clean up the mess Vin Mazzaro left when he let the first two Rockies reach in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle, necessitating the need for a closer. He grabbed his sixth save with a perfect inning, striking out one.

Closer Grid:

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]