Bullpen Report: July 7, 2018

It seemed like Kenley Jansen would close out his 22nd straight save with a two strike count against Shohei Ohtani in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. However, Ohtani battled back drawing a walk, then stole second base during which an errant throw allowed him to move to third. A single by David Fletcher tied the game, then a single to right field by Ian Kinsler eventually scored Fletcher after a bobble and an overthrow to home let the winning run score. On the surface, it’s tough loss. Jansen owned not backing up home on the play which resulted in the winning run scoring, saying and I quote, “That’s my fault.” The blown save is Jansen’s first since April 17th when he fell to two-for-four in saves with an inflated 8.10 ERA. Since then, Jansen whittled his ERA down with a 1.06 ERA over 34 outings converting 21 straight saves, until last night.

However, when targeting a closer at Jansen’s average draft position, it’s to own an elite closer with strong ratios. Jansen’s accrued 23 saves so far this year but with a 2.40 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 0.97 WHIP. Very good, but not in the upper echelon of closers this season. Perhaps it’s his losing a tick off of his velocities on his fastball and cutter or it’s the cumulative effect of pitching in the postseason each of the last five years including into the World Series last season. He’s only blown three saves but the strikeout percentage drop of over 16 percent, Jansen’s swinging strike percentage decrease of almost six percent along with his contact allowed up over nine percent. Getting the All-Star break off could help Jansen but due to his peripheral statistics lagging compared to past performance, he will be fine going forward, just not his to his usual elite status from seasons prior.

Maybe it’s stubbornness or just a lack of belief, but Will Smith’s the Giants pitcher to own for saves. He’s recorded the last three for the team with deposed interim closer Sam Dyson pitching in the seventh and eighth innings his last two appearances. Smith faced the minimum on Friday night striking out one and needed only nine pitches to retire Yadier Molina, Marcell Ozuna and Jedd Gyorko on nine pitches. Perhaps Smith being a southpaw makes fantasy owners nervous, but he’s limited right-handed hitters to a .071/.180/.095 slash line this year through 51 total batters faced. Add in Smith’s swinging strike percentage of 18.4, which ranks sixth among relievers with at least 20 innings this year and he’s yielding contact only 64.6 percent of the time. If Smith’s still on your waiver wire, it’s time to take a chance on him going forward.

Not only did Sean Doolittle garner his third win in relief with a clean ninth striking out one, he’s recorded 29 straight outings with at least an inning pitched without allowing a walk to set a new major league record. Doolittle’s also converted 12 straight saves his last 15 games with a minuscule 0.54 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. He’s also whiffed at least two batters in 17 of his 35 games this year fueling his 49:3 K:BB in them. If the Nationals get hot, Doolittle could benefit greatly with more save chances in the second half, although he’s a top-three closer right now which should continue as long as he remains healthy.

On the other side of this game, Kyle Barraclough takes the loss giving up a walk-off home run to Mark Reynolds leading off the bottom of the ninth. After a nearly perfect June during which Barraclough did not give up a run and only one hit in 12 innings, he’s off to a rough start in July allowing runs in two of his three outings on five hits and two walks in two innings. All of this evens out, so Barraclough will bounce back. But, with him on the trade block, be sure to back him up with Drew Steckenrider who wriggled out of a no outs, bases loaded jam to extend his scoreless streak to 18.2 innings spanning 20 games. Also, below the radar, Brad Ziegler turned in his 16th scoreless outing over his last 17 games yielding a hit and striking out one in Washington last night. Ziegler’s produced a 0.50 ERA his last 18 innings with 15 strikeouts and a 0.83 WHIP. He will help a contender in a setup role.

Another reliever on the trade block, Raisel Iglesias, notched his 17th save working 1.2 innings allowing a hit and a walk against the Cubs on the road. Iglesias has closed out nine of his last 10 save chances since returning from the disabled list and has recorded seven saves requiring more than three outs this season. His last 16 games yields one loss, nine saves, a 3.05 ERA in 17.2 innings, 1.18 WHIP and a 15:6 K:BB rate. If Cincinnati does trade him, with Boston and Houston very interested, add handcuff Jared Hughes if you own Iglesias.

Early this year, Milwaukee’s Josh Hader became the darling of the fantasy community, and with good reason, due to his work with Corey Knebel on the disabled list. Perhaps it shrouds how good Knebel’s been of late? Knebel’s converted eight straight saves and secured his 12th of the year last night giving up a hit with a strikeout. But, over his last 13 games, Knebel’s worked 12.1 innings with 22 strikeouts against three walks with a 1.46 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, looking much like the Knebel of last year. His last 30 days, Knebel’s generated a 40.5 strikeouts-minus-walks percentage, 0.79 WHIP, ERA minus of 39 and a 15.6 swinging strike rate.

Quick Hits: Chicago welcomed back Carl Edwards Jr., he struck out the only batter he faced averaging 95.1 MPH with his fastball. Joe Jimenez notched his third save allowing a hit and striking out one. It’s his third save since June 2nd but he needs to hone his control and limit walks if he’s going to succeed in the ninth inning going forward. It’s almost a shame Jeurys Familia only has one fewer win than Jacob deGrom, but Familia won his fourth last night despite loading the bases on a hit, walk and hit batter with Jose Bautista’s walk-off grand slam. Tyler Clippard fired a clean ninth versus the Yankees but lost the save chance when Toronto extended their lead in the eighth inning. Tampa’s Ryne Stanek continues to pitch well with a 0.46 ERA since June first in 14 appearances. Stanek was the “opener” on Friday and whiffed four in two innings. Fernando Rodney yielded two hits but struck out one in a scoreless inning for the Twins. He’s 15-for-17 in saves since the start of May with a 1.98 ERA in 22.2 innings. Odd save for Brad Peacock who pitched two innings giving up two hits, both home runs, resulting in three earned runs with a walk and a strikeout for his second save. All four runs in his last 10 games have occurred via home runs (four in 11.1 innings). Boston’s Tyler Thornburg made his season debut and first outing in the majors since October of 2016. Blake Parker notched his second win with a clean ninth and a strikeout, benefiting from Jansen’s blown save detailed above. Parker’s recorded seven straight scoreless appearances spanning 6.1 innings. Save number 21 for Brad Boxberger in a clean outing for Arizona. Boxberger’s 21-for-25 in saves and has converted five in a row since his back-to-back blown saves last month. Teammate Archie Bradley has been scoreless in 18 of his last 19 games and in the midst of no earned runs allowed his last nine games. Last, Mets reliever Jenry Mejia had his lifetime ban lifted. He can start pitching for the Mets in non-public workouts after the All-Star break. Mejia’s not pitched in a game since July, 2015.