Bullpen Report: June 5, 2018

• Justin Anderson received the last save opportunity for the Angels on Sunday, walking three batters but nonetheless securing the save. Blake Parker had pitched in the previous days so the speculation was he was still in the lead for saves and that remained true with Parker getting the call last night, pitching a scoreless ninth for his 4th save on the year. Parker walked and struck out a batter and now has a 2.86 ERA, 3.36 FIP, and 3.43 SIERA, which is good stuff considering how his season started.  Parker’s SwStr% of 11.5% is behind his impressive 13.8% last year and his 28.9% GB% is far below last year’s mark of 47% which should cause some apprehension for anyone thinking he will run away with this, especially with Mike Scioscia at the helm.  The Angels are currently 4 games back in the Wild Card, and if they are in the race in late July it’s possible an outsider will be brought in but among his peers in the pen in LA, Parker looks to be in the lead.

• While Robert Gsellman has squeezed his way into a save or two behind Jeurys Familia, free agent signing Anthony Swarzak should join the club soon, returning from the DL from a left oblique strain today for the Mets. Swarzak was impressive last year with a career high 30% K% and a 14% SwStr% suggesting it was the realish deal. Provided he’s healthy and close to last year’s whiffs, he should be back in the mix so he’s back on the grid.

• The Yankees and Tigers split their doubleheader yesterday with Aroldis Chapman getting a one out save (14) in the first game and Shane Greene striking out the side for the save (15) in the night game. Shane Greene was on the closer bubble earlier in the year but has been quite good of late. Since May, in 17.1 innings  Greene has 11 saves and a 21/4 k/bb with a 2.08 ERA/2.89 FIP/2.51 SIERA with a 52.3% GB%. The Tigers won’t give Greene as many opportunities as some other teams but his job is secure and since he’s not quite the sure thing out of the pen it’s likely he won’t be moved at the deadline to a contender.

• The Yankees optioned Tommy Kahnle to Triple-A Scranton yesterday. Although he wasn’t on the grid and had an injury earlier in the year, Kahnle posted some eye-popping numbers last year and was a key deadline trade acquisition by the Yankees. Aaron Boone said Kahnle is healthy and that the “other relievers had kind of gone past him little bit.” Assuming he is healthy and returns to form Kahnle should be back in New York relatively soon. While he may not sniff any high leverage innings, when he’s going well he’ll provide tons of strikeouts and ratio help.