Bullpen Report: June 20, 2018

Among yesterday’s developments, I was pretty certain nothing was going to top the Cubs losing their closer due to an injury sustained while taking his pants off. I was wrong.

After blowing a save against the Marlins on Monday night, Hunter Strickland then lost a fight with a door. The Giants’ closer punched said door and broke his right hand. He underwent surgery on his right pinky finger on Tuesday and is expected to be out for six-to-eight weeks. Bruce Bochy wasted little time in anointing Sam Dyson as his new primary closer, and promptly used him to nail down a save against the Marlins on Tuesday night. With Tony Watson apparently off after pitching on consecutive days, Will Smith pitched the eighth inning and stayed in to begin the ninth with lefties J.B. Shuck and Derek Dietrich due up, but after walking pinch hitter Yadiel Rivera and striking out Dietrich, he gave way to Dyson. The sinkerballer, who happens to have a 64.8 percent ground ball rate, got Brian Anderson to hit into a game-ending double play.

Since struggling through the first two weeks of the season, Dyson has been superb, posting a 1.35 ERA and an 0.86 WHIP over his last 26.2 innings. Though he relies far more on ground balls than strikeouts, he is worth owning in nearly any format.

As for Brandon Morrow — he of the pants-removal mishap — his status is far more optimistic, as he is day-to-day with back spasms. Meanwhile, the Cubs needed a closer in the first game of their Tuesday doubleheader with the Dodgers. Joe Maddon went with lefty Justin Wilson, though that choice could have been impacted by Joc Pederson and Max Muncy being due up to start the ninth inning. Austin Barnes hit for Pederson and drew a walk, and after retiring Muncy on one pitch, Wilson gave up a Justin Turner single. He was one pitch away from getting out of the inning, but Kyle Farmer planted a sharp grounder past an outstretched Kris Bryant, driving in Barnes and Turner for a 4-3 lead. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect bottom of the inning for his 18th save.

During what could be a brief hiatus for Morrow, we should expect some combination of Wilson, Pedro Strop and Steve Cishek to close out games. In the second game of the doubleheader, Cishek pitched the ninth inning with the score tied, 1-1-1.

Update: Morrow was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday morning. Wilson, Strop and Cishek now have a more extended opportunity to vie for saves.

Former Cubs closer Wade Davis continued his difficulties in the month of June on Tuesday night. After walking four Rangers on his way to a blown save and a loss on Sunday, he made an appearance with a four-run lead against the Mets a little too interesting. Davis began the ninth inning with a walk to Jose Reyes, and then gave up a single to Amed Rosario. Both runners advanced on Nolan Arenado’s throwing error, and then each subsequently scored on a ground ball out. Davis limited the damage when he struck out Michael Conforto to end the game, but he has now allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in 5.2 June innings.

It may be worth noting that, in setting up for Davis, Adam Ottavino retired all four batters he faced and struck out the side in the eighth inning.

A.J. Hinch and Kevin Cash continued to show their flexibility in handling the late innings, as they managed against each other. Hinch turned to Hector Rondon, who has been the Astros’ primary closer of late, with two outs in the seventh inning in a 1-1 tie. Rondon lost the lead in the eighth inning on a Wilson Ramos RBI single, and Cash countered by bringing in Jose Alvarado to face Evan Gattis with a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth. While the southpaw’s lefty/righty splits are nearly identical, the move backfired, as Gattis singled. Cash left Alvarado in for Tony Kemp, but Jose Altuve (.307 wOBA against lefties this season) pinch hit and flied out. With the lineup’s lone lefty out of the game, Cash brought in Sergio Romo to get the finals outs — which he did for his fourth save.

Kelvin Herrera made his first Nationals appearance on Tuesday night, pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning against the Orioles and recording his first hold of the year. He has a chance of getting his first National League save as soon as Wednesday night, as Sean Doolittle pitched on Monday and Tuesday.

Quick hits: Blake Parker and Brad Hand have been having some problems with the long ball. Parker notched his eighth save of the season on Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks, but for the third straight game, he allowed a home run. In allowing a Stephen Piscotty solo shot, Hand not only blew a save against the Athletics, but he has now given up a home run in back-to-back appearances…Greg Holland (hip) was activated from the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday, and in his first appearance back, he pitched a perfect seventh inning and recorded a hold. With Bud Norris resting, Jordan Hicks pitched the ninth inning after he had blown the save in the eighth. Hicks retired all three Phillies and was credited with the win. Seranthony Dominguez took the loss, having allowed Matt Carpenter’s game-winning solo homer…Joe Kelly failed to retire any of the three Twins he faced on Tuesday night, and his first two batters scored on a Robbie Grossman triple. In five innings in June, Kelly has allowed six runs on six hits (including two home runs) and five walks…A.J. Ramos is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery for his torn labrum on Wednesday, according to the New York Post. He will miss the rest of the 2018 season.