Bullpen Report: June 1, 2015
Hoping you all had a nice Monday, enjoying my birthday. Here are a few quick updates from the weekend before we get into tonight’s action:
• Since being removed from the closer’s role, Addison Reed has made a few adjustments, leading to increased velocity on his slider. He’s put up zeroes in his last four appearances and he might be inching his way back into saves in Arizona. Brad Ziegler has been a little shaky of late, and while he’s still closing in Arizona at the moment, it might not be long before a change is made as Chip Hale hinted at using Reed in the ninth again. This situation has now been upgraded to Code Red.
• Santiago Casilla had a night to forget last night, blowing his third blown save of the season after allowing four runs in the ninth inning. Casilla has rewarded fantasy owners with an impressive 15 saves and four wins, but his 4.48 FIP/4.12 xFIP is less than impressive. There has been no chatter about a change in SF but ex-closer Sergio Romo has been the better pitcher this year with a 3.63/1.81/2.05 ERA/FIP/xFIP line and 25/5 K/BB in 17.1 innings. I would grab Romo if he’s available as a speculative pick up, he shouldn’t hurt your team and could be a second half saves sleeper. Stay tuned.
• Sean Doolittle’s return did not last long as he was placed back on the DL with a shoulder strain. The A’s situation was iffy before with Doolittle working himself back into possible save situations, but now that he’s gone it’s Clippard’s job again and that job is lush with green on the closer’s grid.
• No save situation in the Cubs game tonight, but Travis Wood threw a scoreless ninth, allowing one walk while striking out two. Wood has been decent since leaving the Cubs rotation, throwing four innings with a 6/4 K/BB in five appearances. It’s noting particularly impressive but the Cubs bullpen isn’t all that impressive either. While I doubt Wood will be a fixture for any vulture saves in Chicago, he could cement himself as a later inning bullpen piece and a holds sleeper.
• Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save on the year. Gregerson had a few blips in mid-to-late May but he’s thrown three consecutive scoreless innings with six strikeouts and looks to be back on track. Will Harris received the win for Houston throwing 1.2 scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings lowering his ERA to 0.35. Harris was shadily solid last year in Arizona and the Astros were smart to select him off of waivers as he’s been an incredible asset in there bullpen. Harris won’t maintain a .100 BABIP all year but he had solid peripherals last year and this season he’s killing tons of worms with a 54.9 GB%.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
When he's not focusing on every team's bullpen situation, Ben can be found blogging at Ben's Baseball Bias and on Twitter @BensBias
Tolleson looks pretty safe to me right now, too. I think he might even have some leash by now. Casilla should be yellow; his challenger is a big contract experienced closer, not some fireballing rookie.