Bullpen Report: June 30, 2017

There wasn’t a lot of activity in bullpens on Friday night with seven of the 14 games (CLE-DET ppd because of rain) having a differential of at least five runs, but some of the more volatile bullpens were further shaken this past evening.

Matt Bush was pummeled for three runs on four hits in just a third of an inning, his third blown save in his last five outings and fifth overall. Bush allowed 10 runs in 9.3 innings (9.67 ERA) during June, boosting his ERA from 1.37 to 4.03 and putting his job at risk as Keone Kela continues to excel. Bush and Kela might’ve had an open competition this spring had Kela not wound up in the doghouse due to an attitude issue during Spring Training. Kela allowed just two runs in 10.7 IP (1.69 ERA) with 16 strikeouts in June.

Saturday morning edit: The Rangers are going to a committee and it could be at least in part because Kela’s shoulder is an issue. Jose LeClerc is an interesting add for sure.

Alex Colome had a similarly rough June (8.10 ERA in 10 IP), capping it off with his fourth straight run-allowing appearance, though he still notched the save despite Mark Trumbo’s 10th inning homer. Prior to Friday, Colome had allowed 2, 3, and 2 ER in his previous three outings and he allowed at least one hit in each of his nine June outings (15 H total). Tommy Hunter has posted a 2.08 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 18 Ks in his last 13 IP. He has shifted his pitch mix, moving from his four-seamer to his cutter and curve more often and it has helped fuel his best season yet (26% K, 18% K-BB, and 11% SwStr – all career-highs).

Bud Norris is due off the disabled list on Saturday and he’s expected to re-assume the closer’s role, ahead of Cam Bedrosian. Norris is 11-for-12 in Saves and has a 1.82 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 32 Ks in 24.7 IP since taking over the ninth inning in late-April.

Brad Brach blew his fourth save of the season and Darren O’Day capped off the loss after a Steven Souza three-run homer, but I’m only mentioning it for the sake of being thorough because Zach Britton is continuing his rehab and is slated to return on July 5th. He will regain the closer’s role immediately.

This is for NL-Only and Holds leagues folks: keep an eye on Phil Maton in San Diego. The 24-year old righty has hurled 8.3 scoreless innings thus far, allowing just five hits and fanning 11 batters (35% K) with a win, save, and hold. I could see him getting more of a Holds-friendly role as he continues to excel and as the Padres start to make moves (relievers are the one thing they have to offer in the market).

The Astros found a way to get Aaron Judge out:

Nori Aoki is obviously a must-add in every single league format as the next great reliever!!!

Trade Watch

Here’s are my top 10 potential closers who could be dealt this month in order of likelihood (based on my opinion, of course):

• Kelvin Herrera
• David Robertson
• Mark Melancon
• Justin Wilson 
• Addison Reed
• A.J. Ramos
• Jim Johnson
• Brandon Kintzler
• Pat Neshek
• Everyone in Oakland

Closer Grid:

	Closer	First	Second	DL/Minors
ARI	Fernando Rodney	Archie Bradley	Jorge De La Rosa	JJ Hoover
ATL	Jim Johnson	Arodys Vizcaino	Jose Ramirez
BAL	Brad Brach	Mychal Givens	Darren O’Day	Zach Britton
BOS	Craig Kimbrel	Matt Barnes	Joe Kelly	Carson Smith
CHC	Wade Davis	Koji Uehara	Carl Edwards Jr.
CWS	David Robertson	Tommy Kahnle	Anthony Swarzak	Nate Jones
CIN	Raisel Iglesias	Michael Lorenzen	Drew Storen
CLE	Andrew Miller	Cody Allen	Bryan Shaw
COL	Greg Holland	Adam Ottavino	Jake McGee
DET	Justin Wilson	Alex Wilson	Shane Greene
HOU	Ken Giles	Will Harris	Michael Feliz
KC	Kelvin Herrera	Joakim Soria	Mike Minor
LAA	Bud Norris	Cam Bedrosian	Keynan Middleton	David Hernandez
LAD	Kenley Jansen	Pedro Baez	Luis Avilan	Josh Fields
MIA	A.J. Ramos	David Phelps	Kyle Barraclough
MIL	Corey Knebel	Jacob Barnes	Carlos Torres
MIN	Brandon Kintzler	Taylor Rogers	Matt Belisle	Glen Perkins
NYM	Addison Reed	Jerry Blevins	Paul Sewald	Jeurys Familia
NYY	Aroldis Chapman	Dellin Betances	Tyler Clippard
OAK	Santiago Casilla	Sean Doolittle	Ryan Madson
PHI	Hector Neris	Pat Neshek	Luis Garcia
PIT	Felipe Rivero	Juan Nicasio	Daniel Hudson
STL	Trevor Rosenthal	Seung Hwan Oh	Matt Bowman
SD	Brandon Maurer	Brad Hand	Ryan Buchter	Carter Capps
SF	Sam Dyson	Hunter Strickland	George Kontos	Mark Melancon
SEA	Edwin Diaz	Nick Vincent	James Pazos
TB	Alex Colome	Tommy Hunter	Chase Whitley	Brad Boxberger
TEX	Matt Bush	Keone Kela	Jose Leclerc
TOR	Roberto Osuna	Ryan Tepera	Danny Barnes	Joe Smith
WSH	Enny Romero	Matt Albers	Blake Treinen	Koda Glover

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