Bullpen Report: June 20, 2019

• Since returning from the IL, Wade Davis has been very ineffective, leading to a deserved red band in the grid below. The Rockies haven’t made any changes yet of course and called on Davis in the 9th last night for the save. Davis got his 9th save while striking out a pair, but not before allowing a solo shot to Kevin Cron. It’s nice to see Davis get the save and a couple of whiffs but since his return he’s allowed 8 runs in 6 appearances and a very meager 7.1% Swinging Strike rate. Although he got the save, Davis will have to start putting up zeros to hold the job or a potential return to the IL.

• No save in St. Louis last night but Jordan Hicks pitched a scoreless 9th and 10th. Carlos Martinez blew the save in his 2nd inning of work in the 8th with Andrew Miller called on to get the final out. The Cardinals are starting to put together a formidable bullpen. Jordan Hicks isn’t quite as shutdown-y as you would want but he’s been OK. Andrew Miller is starting to get back into form, Carlos Martinez has been effective and John Gant has been incredible all year and even received his 7th win last night when the Cardinals scored in the 11th. Although normally a starter, the Cardlinals confirmed that Carlos Martinez will remain in the pen, making him another holds option moving forward.

The best of the bunch in the bullpen might not even be on the grid or getting paid much in Giovanny Gallegos who has a 2.13 SIERA, a 34.2% K-BB% (4th best among qualified relievers), and a 17.1 SwStr% (12th best among qualified relievers). Gallegos likely won’t see save chances but he should continue to rack up totals and holds.

• No save situation for the Red Sox but Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th with Marcus Walden getting the final three outs in the 9th. After an early season dose of Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes has become the main guy to own in Boston but their committee remains with Brandon Workman, Brasier, and Walden lingering for some lower leverage save chances.

• The Braves bullpen pecking order is starting to solidify, even if Luke Jackson has been a little mediocre of late. Last night A.J. Minter got two outs in the 7th before handing it off to Anthony Swazak to finish of the 7th and 8th innings. Luke Jackson took to the 9th, and didn’t get a save but otherwise closed the door on the Mets with a perfect inning and a pair of strikeouts. A shutdown inning out of Jackson is good to see but if Jackson were to struggle, look for Swarzak and Minter to see some saves chances.

• The Pirates might not be particularly good but Felipe Vazquez sure is! He pitched a perfect inning for his 17th save and remains a top closing option. Vazquez name was mentioned as a trade possibility by me a while ago, with no actual rumors or basis to back it up just the logic of selling a bullpen arm in a down year. Now that we’re in the rumor season, his name hasn’t been mentioned with his affordable deal unlikely to be moved. Vazquez would likely be the closer on any team he joined anyway, but his owners can relax knowing he’s likely to continue getting saves on Pittsburgh moving forward.

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee
Bullpen Report — 6/20/2019
Team Closer First Up Second Up Minors/DL
ARI Greg Holland Archie Bradley Yoan Lopez
ATL Luke Jackson Anthony Swarzak A.J. Minter
BAL Mychal Givens Miguel Castro Richard Bleier Nathan Karns
BOS Matt Barnes Brandon Workman Ryan Brasier Heath Hembree
CHC Pedro Strop Brandon Kintzler Steve Cishek Craig Kimbrel
CWS Alex Colome Aaron Bummer Kelvin Herrera
CIN Raisel Iglesias Michael Lorenzen Amir Garrett
CLE Brad Hand Nick Wittgren Adam Cimber
COL Wade Davis Scott Oberg Jairo Diaz
DET Shane Greene Joe Jimenez Victor Alcantara
HOU Roberto Osuna Ryan Pressly Hector Rondon Collin McHugh
KC Ian Kennedy Wily Peralta Jake Diekman
LAA Hansel Robles Ty Buttrey Cam Bedrosian
LAD Kenley Jansen Pedro Baez Ross Stripling
MIA Sergio Romo Nick Anderson Tayron Guerrero Drew Steckenrider
MIL Josh Hader Jeremy Jeffress Junior Guerra
MIN Taylor Rogers Trevor May Blake Parker Trevor Hildenberger
NYM Edwin Diaz Seth Lugo Robert Gsellman Jeurys Familia
NYY Aroldis Chapman Zack Britton Adam Ottavino Dellin Betances
OAK Blake Treinen Lou Trivino Liam Hendriks
PHI Hector Neris Jose Alvarez Vince Velasquez David Robertson
PIT Felipe Vazquez Kyle Crick Francisco Liriano Keone Kela
STL Jordan Hicks John Gant Carlos Martinez
SD Kirby Yates Craig Stammen Trey Wingenter
SF Will Smith Tony Watson Sam Dyson
SEA Roenis Elias Anthony Bass Austin Adams Hunter Strickland
TB Diego Castillo Jose Alvarado Emilio Pagan
TEX Shawn Kelley Jose LeClerc Chris Martin
TOR Daniel Hudson Joe Biagini Sam Gaviiglio Ken Giles
WSH Sean Doolittle Tanner Rainey Wander Suero Kyle Barraclough





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

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JJ17Chi
4 years ago

Osuna has given up 7 runs in his last 10 appearances. What is the concern level?

bruno
4 years ago
Reply to  JJ17Chi

Extremely high if you are a woman.

cartermember
4 years ago
Reply to  JJ17Chi

A lot of people bet he would lose his job. There is a much better pitcher directly ahead of him in Pressly, and a closer with pedestrian K rate to me is quite a bit overrated.