Bullpen Report: June 9, 2018

With Jeurys Familia landing on the disabled list due to shoulder soreness, the Mets will need a new closer going forward. Of course, this takes into account the team has lost 12 of its last 14 contests and the bullpen owns a 7.22 ERA with nine losses within this rough stretch. Fantasy owners should look to Robert Gsellman who recorded the last save for New York last Sunday. Gsellman’s worked in high leverage this year with five holds and two saves under his belt along with winning five games. Over his last 17.2 innings, Gsellman’s held opponents to four runs for a tidy 2.04 ERA and his ability to get left handed hitters out could translate to success in the role. Add in starting pitcher eligibility in some formats as a sweetener along with reports the Mets will not rush Familia back until he’s ready and hope Gsellman can continue to be fantasy relevant as the anchorman in the Mets bullpen going forward. For those in deeper leagues, taking a flier on Anthony Swarzak also makes sense as he rounds into form back from stint on the disabled list.

Owning Shane Greene can be frustrating. He’s held on to the closer role in Detroit, although tenuously at times, for 15 saves this season. On the other hand, he’s also lost three games and blown three saves due to his propensity to give up home runs (six in 30.1 innings). Last night, Greene allowed two hits, three earned runs and a walk after entering a tied game. He has converted his last five save chances in a row but seems to be working on borrowed time as the Tigers could trade him to a contender as the deadline approaches. With this in mind, Greene should continue his role in the ninth inning but Joe Jimenez is steadily closing the gap. Jimenez notched his first save last Sunday, has the superior strikeout to walk ratio, better ratios in ERA and WHIP through an increase in his swinging strike percentage while reducing hard contact this year. Those looking to stash for saves should roster Jimenez sooner rather than later in an effort to save in FAAB bids.

Another rough outing for Bud Norris. He blew his second save, over his last three appearances, but garnering the win in Cincinnati. Norris allowed four hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts during his outing on Friday night. This marks the third time of his last four in which Norris has given up at least a run and fourth of the last seven. Hopefully this will be a blip on his overall performance when looking back, but his ERA has risen from 2.01 on May 19th to its present 3.49 as a result. His owners should key on the 40 strikeouts against four walks in 28.1 innings along with his 2.19 FIP to signal positive migration of his results going forward. Those looking to handcuff should focus on Jordan Hicks who notched his seventh hold not John Brebbia who benefited with his second save this year on Friday. Hicks has worked in more high leverage situations than Brebbia.

It appears Joakim Soria’s back in the saddle for the White Sox. He saved his seventh game and third in a row in Boston in a clean ninth inning. Soria’s only given up one unearned run over his last nine appearances, spanning 9.1 innings, with 10 strikeotus against one walk and a .094 batting average against. Soria was dropped by many after his rough start to the season but fantasy owners should speculate on him once again if needing saves to move up in the standings. Chicago will continue to go to him as they try to build his trade stock prior to the deadline.

One team needing to add to its bullpen, Cleveland, has seen Cody Allen right the ship of late. Allen went through some struggles in May but has converted his last seven save chances in a row, including his 12th on Friday. Over his last 13 games, Allen’s pitched 12.1 innings allowing five hits, five earned runs (3.65 ERA) and three walks with 16 strikeouts. He will welcome back a healthy Andrew Miller to help share the late innings workload and some help via transactions in the weeks ahead.

Quick Hits: Pedro Strop recorded his first save since September of 2015 during the Cubs win on Friday afternoon. Strop’s made 24 scoreless appearances of his 27 games this year and lowered his ERA to 2.03 in the process. Brandon Morrow worked in each of the two previous days throwing 42 pitches and received a well deserved day off. Raisel Iglesias took the loss in the Cardinals comeback win. Shaking off the rust from his disabled list stint, Iglesias has allowed a run in two if his four games back but owns a 2.33 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He will be fine. Mark Melancon allowed his first run since his return giving up two hits in Washington. It’s still Hunter Strickland‘s gig to lose. It feels like Ryan Tepera’s overlooked by the fantasy community but he notched his third straight save for the Blue Jays. He’s made multiple inning appearances the last three in a row, owns a 2.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 32 innings this year. Hold number two for Brad Ziegler who yielded a hit with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. Drew Steckenrider whiffed two against a hit in the eighth and Kyle Barraclough fired a clean ninth inning with a strikeout to preserve the Marlins shutout in non-save outings. Chad Green wins his fourth game in relief giving up two hits and striking out two against the Mets. Dellin Betances worked a clean eighth for his fifth hold with a strikeout and Aroldis Chapman locked down his 16th save allowing a hit. It’s only the second time all year Chapman’s pitched without getting at least one strikeout and he’s 16-for-17 in save chances with a minuscule 1.35 ERA. Edwin Diaz saved his major league leading 22nd game yielding two hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings in Tampa Bay. Diaz has struck out 54 of the 128 total batters he’s faced (42.2 strikeout percentage). Blake Parker saved his sixth game, and third in a row after a blown save last Sunday. He owns a 1.80 ERA and 0.60 WHIP so far in June. Oakland’s Lou Trivino registered his first save in 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Just a day off for Blake Treinen who was not needed when Oakland added to their lead. Kenley Jansen worked a clean ninth in a non-save appearance. He’s converted his last 13 saves in a row and over his last 21 outings has a 1.17 ERA in 23 innings with 24 strikeouts against four walks. Last stash note, keep tabs on Diego Castillo of Tampa Bay, he could figure in high leverage for them sooner rather than later.