Bullpen Report: July 12, 2018

While fantasy owners lament when Brandon Morrow does not receive a save opportunity, it’s time for them to adjust to his usage going forward. Morrow received three days off after working in consecutive outings this weekend. On the season, Morrow’s pitched in back-to-back games five times all season. He’s 20-for-22 in save chances with a terrific 1.57 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, but the Cubs will continue to handle him with care with an eye on the playoffs. Roster limitations can affect attempting to handcuff this bullpen so it’s time to adjust to the situation at hand instead of hoping it evolves going forward. Of course, missing out on saves stinks, but having Morrow healthy during the second half outweighs fantasy implications.

With at least three members of the Marlins bullpen linked in trade rumors, racking up extra inning games does not help limit usage. Kyle Barraclough allowed three hits while striking out the side to keep the game tied last night but has surrendered nine hits his last six innings after holding hitters to six hits his first 30 games. Regression to the mean happens all the time in baseball, so noting Barraclough’s 1.31 ERA accompanies a 3.61 FIP along with a 92.4 left-on-base percentage hints more could be on the way.  Drew Steckenrider blew his third save giving up two hits and two earned runs with a walk while striking out two. After recording 19.2 straight scoreless innings, Steckenrider’s allowed runs in back-to-back games on four hits and two walks.

Could Brad Ziegler be the best reliever to target for a contender flying below the radar? Ziegler’s rattled off 19 scoreless outings, including Wednesday night, of his last 20 with a 0.43 ERA in them with 19 strikeouts. Also, do not sleep on Adam Conley who has bounced back from his five run implosion in Washington with four clean innings his most recent three outings striking out seven. Conley’s recorded 14 scoreless of his last 16 games and makes for an intriguing pitcher to target at the deadline.

Since a fire sale should ensue soon for the Mets, they’ve handled Jeurys Familia with kid gloves this week. Familia only needed eight pitches to navigate the ninth inning last night but did not return for the 10th. This also occurred on Monday when Familia retired the side on 10 pitches. With the Mets unwilling to extend Familia, it limits the appeal for two inning wins or saves, but enhances his trade stock in a flush market, no pun intended. On a side note, it seems unfair Robert Gsellman’s won six games in relief this year when Jacob deGrom and his major league leading ERA (1.68) has tallied five wins all season. Further stoking the fire, Gsellman’s allowed 12 earned runs his last 10 outings spanning 10.1 innings pitched (10.49 ERA). Guess the old adage of it’s better to be lucky than good applies here.

Another reliever on the trade block, Sergio Romo, notched his 11th save, in 13 chances since May 29th striking out two in a clean inning. Romo’s surging of late, great timing for Tampa Bay, with a 1.37 ERA his last 19.2 innings (20 games), 15 strikeouts against four walks while lowering his ERA from 6.33 to 3.95 in the process. If Romo’s traded, would the Rays give save chances to Diego Castillo? He’s only appeared in games with his team ahead or tied during Castillo’s reeled off eight holds with a 21:5 K:BB, 1.80 ERA and 0.85 WHIP since his promotion. Deep league rosters may want to stash him for the second half.

Amidst all the struggles of many bullpens this year, Edwin Diaz sits on the precipice of a career year. He locked down his 36th save, two more than all of last season, with a clean inning and a strikeout. Diaz moved to within two saves of the record set by Francisco Rodriguez who saved 38 games in the first half of 2008. Also, Diaz has secured 20 saves in one run games for the Mariners with a 0.81 ERA and 40:5 K:BB in 20 games. Seattle’s record when Diaz enters with a lead moved to 44-0 and they’re 22-0 in one run games under the same circumstances. For the icing on the cake, Diaz has whiffed 43.6 hitters he’s faced, 79 strikeouts of the 181 total batters faced.

After starting slow, Felipe Vazquez finally looks like the closer many targeted in the top-10 during drafts. Vazquez whiffed the side for his 20th save, and 10th in a row. Over the last 30 days, Vazquez has a 40 percent strikeout minus walk percentage with 27 strikeouts in 13.2 innings and a 16.7 swinging strike percentage. During his consecutive save streak, Vazquez has recorded 32 strikeouts in 16 games covering 17 innings. The buy low window has expired.

As the Phillies bullpen turns could be a daily or weekly segment with eight different relievers notching at least one save this year. Victor Arano, who has the last three saves for Philadelphia, pitched the eighth and walked two hitter during his two-thirds of an inning with Adam Morgan retiring the only batter he faced to get Arano out of a jam. Seranthony Dominguez returned to the ninth inning striking out one in a clean appearance. He’s converted four straight saves but it’s been since July third since his last one to the dismay of his owners. With trepidation, and hope, this pattern suggests Dominguez could get the next opportunity, but it remains to be seen with first year manager Gabe Kapler.

Non-save situation for the Astros, but Brad Peacock coughed up a run for the fourth straight game. Peacock allowed three hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings yesterday. But owns a 10.13 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 5.1 innings in July. Chris Devenski’s also struggling of late giving up runs in two of his four appearances so far this month. Add in Ken Giles who had minor league options left and was sent to Triple-A after using colorful language upon his removal from Tuesday’s contest. Houston will send it’s minor league pitching guru to help Giles work on his mechanics and confidence. Perhaps a change of scenery would serve Giles well. Amidst the rubble, do not sleep on Collin McHugh. He’s recorded back-to-back holds and seems to be rising in the bullpen hierarchy. With a 1.02 ERA and 0.73 WHIP through 30 games and 44 innings, McHugh’s racked up 57 strikeouts transitioning well as a reliever.

Quick Hits: Will Smith pitched two innings giving up a hit with a strikeout. He’s recorded the last three saves for the Giants yet remains vastly underowned in fantasy leagues in spite of a 0.95 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 28.1 innings this year. Fantasy tease Ryan Pressly turned in a clean inning for his seventh hold with two strikeouts. He’s terrific at home with a 1.64 ERA but struggles on the road with a 5.56 ERA, plan accordingly. Four out save for Craig Kimbrel who recorded all his outs via strikeout with one walk. Kimbrel’s converted his last 19 saves in a row and not given up a run his last eight appearances spanning 8.2 innings with 16 strikeouts of 34 batters faced. A.J. Cole continues to pitch well with the Yankees. He fired two scoreless innings yielding two hits and striking out two. As a Yankee, Cole’s pitched 18.2 innings with a 0.48 ERA and 24:6 K:BB. Four inning save for Adam Plutko. He allowed six hits, three earned runs and two walks with four strikeouts during the Indians blowout win over the Reds. Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth with a four run lead, so no save but it’s his 13th straight scoreless inning but his last save was on June 17th. Joakim Soria pitched 1.1 innings for his 13th save giving up a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. He’s converted nine of his last 10 save chances with a 0.87 ERA his last 21 outings (20.2 innings). Jordan Hicks allowed a run for the second straight game and has done so in three of his last five games. Hicks leads the Cardinals in holds and appearances but seems to be showing signs of fatigue. Corey Knebel pitched a scoreless ninth in a tied game allowing a hit and striking out one. His last 15 outings yield a 1.97 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. Save number 25 for Kenley Jansen who allowed a walk in a scoreless inning. Jansen’s secured a save in 23 of his last 24 chances and owns an ERA of one since April 21st over 36 innings.