Bullpen Report: July 2-3, 2016

Good morning! Sorry I missed you all this weekend, so let’s get caught up on what went down. I won’t cover every save this weekend, but just the situations worth monitoring moving forward since there were a lot of saves.

Jake McGee was activated from the DL, but will not be inserted into the closer’s role just yet. Estevez’ last save was on June 20th, and since then, he has gone 1-2 with a blown save and a 7.20 ERA (5.77 FIP). Estevez doesn’t have a stronghold on the closer role, but McGee did not make a strong case for himself pitching a third of an inning and giving up 2 runs (1 earned) with a hit, a walk, and a strikeout. Small sample size and McGee was 15 of 18 in save opportunities before the injury. The numbers surrounding those appearances aren’t much to write home about as his K% (6.55) is well below his career rate (10.7) and his ERA (5.32) and FIP (4.58) are well above his career norms, which are below 3. I understand why the Rockies aren’t rushing him back into the closer role, so we will continue to monitor this situation rather closely and let you know if any changes occur.

Kevin Jepsen has been designated for assignment, which shouldn’t directly impact any of your squads. Jepsen had not seen much action as of late, giving up runs in three of his last four appearances dating back to June 18th, so the idea of stealing some saves shouldn’t have crossed your mind. The second in line role belongs to Ryan Pressly, who gave up two inherited runs yesterday after giving up a walk to load the bases and then a two-out double to Shin-Soo Choo. He still managed to earn his fifth hold of the season as the Twins still had and were able to hold onto the lead. After Fernando Abad suffered the extra-innings loss on Friday, he bounced back solidly yesterday to earn his fifth hold as well, while Brandon Kintzler nabbed his fourth save of the season.

After pitching three straight scoreless low leverage outings, Trevor Rosenthal hit his first real road bump yesterday since being removed from the closers role. Rosenthal gave up three straight singles and a walk, allowing two runs (one while he was on the mound) while not recording an out. Even if he is not their closer, an effective Rosenthal is essential for the Cards after they placed Kevin Siegrist on the DL with mononucleosis. In better news, Seung Hwan Oh earned his second save of the season Sunday after earning his first Saturday. It seemed to get a little dicey on Sunday after he gave up a run, but Oh battled and does not appear to have any serious competition for the role right now.

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Closer First Second DL/Minors
Arizona Brad Ziegler Daniel Hudson Tyler Clippard
Atlanta Arodys Vizcaino Jim Johnson Hunter Cervenka
Baltimore Zach Britton Mychal Givens Brad Brach Darren O’Day
Boston Craig Kimbrel Koji Uehara Junichi Tazawa
CHI (NL) Hector Rondon Pedro Strop Justin Grimm
CHI (AL) David Robertson Nate Jones Zach Duke
Cincy Tony Cingrani Ross Ohlendorf Jumbo Diaz
Cleveland Cody Allen Bryan Shaw Dan Otero
Colorado Carlos Estevez Jake McGee Jason Motte
Detroit Francisco Rodriguez Justin Wilson Shane Greene Bruce Rondon
Houston Will Harris Ken Giles Luke Gregerson
KC Wade Davis Kelvin Herrera Joakim Soria
LAA Huston Street Fernando Salas Joe Smith /td>
LAD Kenley Jansen Pedro Baez Joe Blanton Yimi Garcia
Miami A.J. Ramos Fernando Rodney David Phelps
Milwaukee Jeremy Jeffress Tyler Thornburg Will Smith
Minnesota Brandon Kintzler Fernando Abad Ryan Pressly Glen Perkins
NY (NL) Jeurys Familia Addison Reed Hansel Robles Jim Henderson
NY (AL) Aroldis Chapman Andrew Miller Dellin Betances
Oakland Ryan Madson John Axford Ryan Dull Sean Doolittle
Philly Jeanmar Gomez Hector Neris David Hernandez
Pittsburgh Mark Melancon Neftali Feliz Tony Watson
St. Louis Seung Hwan Oh Jonathan BroxtonTrevor Rosenthal JTrevor Rosenthal Kevin Siegrist
SD Ryan Buchter Brandon Maurer Kevin Quackenbush
SF Santiago Casilla Cory Gearrin Hunter Strickland Sergio Romo
Seattle Steve Cishek Joaquin Benoit Vidal Nuno Nick Vincent
TB Xavier Cedeno Erasmo Ramirez Danny Farquar Alex Colome
Texas Sam Dyson Jake Diekman Matt Bush Keone Kela
Toronto Roberto Osuna Jason Grilli Drew Storen Brett Cecil
Wash. Shawn Kelley Felipe Rivero Sammy Solis Jonathan Papelbon

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





16 Comments
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camarodude1973
10 years ago
Brad JohnsonMember
10 years ago
Reply to  camarodude1973

Yea, they’re giving Maurer the first crack at the role.

camarodude1973
10 years ago
Reply to  Brad Johnson

Based on your rankings, does that mean, despite that, Buchter is the better bet for saves?

AnonMember since 2025
10 years ago

To be fair to Estevez, 7 of his 9 appearances since taking over as closer have been at Coors. Stats over that time: 9IP, 8 h, 4 r, 8k, 3bb, 1hr, 4.00era, 688 ops allowed. He hasn’t pitched badly all things considered

BMac
10 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Totally with you here. Why we talk about stats in Coors like they are just normal stadium numbers is beyond me. There are very few pitchers who you should feel safe in starting in Coors; the best you can hope is they will outpitch the opposition.

DoyersFan
10 years ago

Adam Ottavino is nearing the end of his rehab assignment, do you think the rookies are looking to get him back into that closer role right away?

Brad JohnsonMember
10 years ago
Reply to  DoyersFan

I’m not PK, but I figure the Rockies will ease him back into the role after over a year on the skids. He wasn’t an established closer when he went down.

Cretgren
10 years ago

Hello! I just wanted to let you know that Justin Grimm seems to be miscast as the second setup man on the Cubs. Not only has he been awful, but Travis Wood has 5 holds over the past month. I would recommend that he be listed second in line after Strop.

Nicky
10 years ago

I’ll be watching JTrevor Rosenthal and /td>, both seem like great dark horse candidates.

camarodude1973
10 years ago
Reply to  Nicky

I actually think this hybrid superhuman of Jonathan BroxtonTrevor Rosenthal is the one to watch.

p00gs
10 years ago

come on, these have been great, dont let them slip like the yahoo ones!

BMac
10 years ago

Will Harris should be green. The guy had what I call an UltraSave, bases loaded, nobody out, and not a single run scored. He did load the bases himself, but the first guy was a dropped strikeout (not really his fault) and the other two hits were singles (of course, since no-one scored). He has been on a great run, nothing shaky in his stats line, and his rivals are all having problems. Green. Greener than most of the guys on this chart.

chri521
10 years ago

In Oak, looks like Dull is stepping up and has overtaken the Axman? How about Philly, has Ramos put himself on the radar leapfrogging Hernandez?

Jonathan Sher
10 years ago

In Baltimore, Brad Brach, not Mychal Givens, has been entrenched as the setup man in the 8th when Baltimore has a lead and a save-able game; Givens was last given the ball in the 8th with a small lead on June 3, and since then, his ERA has been 8.10 with 7.2 walks/9 innings.

josephd10
10 years ago

It appears Edwin Diaz has leapfrogged himself into at least the second slot.

bartonrp
10 years ago

Any comments on Ryan Garton, who got the save today for Tampa Bay?