Bullpen Report: May 18, 2019

In the moment Jose Alvarado owners yearned for, a save chance, things did not go as planned in New York. Alvarado last recorded a save on April seventh against the Giants on the road. He’s also registered five holds and two losses in 12 outings since. After Diego Castillo retired the Yankees in order in the eighth with two strikeouts, Alvarado entered to face Luke Voit, a known southpaw killer. Voit hit his 11th home run, and second off a lefty, leading off the inning. Alvarado allowed a single to Gary Sanchez, another hitter who fares better versus lefties, before striking out Kendrys Morales. But, a Gleyber Torres double put the go ahead run at second base. Struggling a bit with command, Alvarado uncorked a wild pitch after intentionally walking Clint Frazier scoring the tying run.

Alvarado did induce a fielder’s choice ground out to third base cutting the run off at home but yielded the game winning single to Gio Urshela leading to his third loss. Not only did Alvarado get his first blown save, but he tied a career worst giving up three earned runs in an outing for the first time since 2017 snapping the Rays 17 game scoreless streak by its relievers. There will be better days ahead for Alvarado, but, for his owners, the saves will be be boom or bust with Castillo surging. For a team which takes heed of match-ups, it’s strange to see Alvarado getting the ninth with such a right-handed lean on tap. Leaving in Castillo to face Voit made sense then bring in Alvarado, but it’s why we observe, not make the decisions.

Back in the saddle for Hector Neris who notched his sixth save with a clean ninth inning striking out one. Although Pat Neshek recorded the last Phillies save, Neris returned to the ninth on Friday night. Neris has two of the three Phillies saves in May and his two-thirds time share in the role seems fitting with Gabe Kapler not deploying traditional bullpen roles. Neshek gets his eighth hold with a clean eighth inning and Jose Alvarez his second hold striking out one in a clean seventh inning.

It can be a wild ride with Sergio Romo in high leverage, but he held on for his seventh save over two innings last night. Romo entered after Nick Anderson loaded the bases. Anderson struggled in his outing not getting an out but allowing three hits, one a home run by Pete Alonso, and a walk. Romo allowed two of the three inherited runners score, which get charged to Anderson, on a single by Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo sacrifice fly. He returned for the ninth inning yielding only a double to Wilson Ramos and striking out two in his two innings of work. As much as fantasy owners wish for an arm to emerge in Miami, Romo’s still the arm to own for high leverage innings no matter how bumpy it gets until he’s dealt.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Roberto Osuna locked down his 11th save and converted his last 23 save chances dating back to last year. Osuna did serve up a double to Christian Vazquez and intentionally walk Andrew Benintendi, but, ended the game on a Mookie Betts lineout to Michael Brantley. Ryan Pressly set a major league record with his 39th straight scoreless outing spanning 38 innings firing a clean eighth inning with a strikeout. Free agent Craig Kimbrel set the record in 2011. It’s Pressly’s ninth hold and if he were the closer on any other team, could be the top reliever in baseball. He will settle for being a ratio eraser with upside if anything happened to Osuna.

With the Atlanta bullpen struggling to protect a 12 run lead, yes, you read this correctly, Luke Jackson entered with a four run lead and two runners on. Jackson struck out Hernan Perez, who pitched the only scoreless inning of relief for the Brewers, on a foul tip for his sixth save. With four saves over the last eight days, Jackson’s emerged as the arm to own in Atlanta. In May, Jackson’s logged 8.1 innings giving up six hits, one earned run and a walk with 13 strikeouts.

Cue the Undertaker as Hansel Robles notched his fifth save working a clean ninth inning. He’s recorded a save in three of his last four outings and converted all five of his chances this season. Robles emerged in high leverage after cutting his teeth as the opener last year for the Angels, remember this in the quick hits section below. Ty Buttrey notched his ninth hold, which ties him for second in the American League. Buttrey did face the top of the Royals order in the seventh cementing his role as the extinguisher for the Angels which caps him for saves, but, hints he could run with the role if he attains it later on.

Quick Hits: Benefiting from the Alvarado meltdown, Jonathan Holder garnered his third win in relief after firing a clean top of the ninth with two strikeouts…Knowing the Nationals bullpen would be without Sean Doolittle on Friday, his peers struggled giving up 11 earned runs in a combined two innings between four different pitchers. Doolittle’s the only trusted option in high leverage but he’s already accrued 19 appearances and 20 innings. Keep in mind, he’s not thrown more than 51.1 innings since 2014 and currently pacing towards 74 innings this year…Mychal Givens logged a clean ninth with two strikeouts, but with a four run lead. In May, Givens has given up three hits, one earned runs and three walks with 11 strikeouts in seven innings. Shawn Armstrong also turned in a clean eighth with two strikeouts. Since joining the Orioles, Armstrong’s pitched seven innings allowing three hits, one earned run and three walks with eight strikeouts…Getting in work, Shane Greene walked one and struck out one in the top of the ninth of a loss. He had not pitched since Sunday in a save, and Detroit’s not held a lead since…Chris Martin allowed a home run to Harrison Bader in the ninth of a non-save appearance, his first earned run yielded since April 24th. Shawn Kelley will not be activated until Sunday or Monday, so no clarity on the ninth until next week. Jose LeClerc looked terrific as the “opener” needing only 12 pitches in a clean inning striking out Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong. Could he take the Robles path back to closing, time will tell…With Aaron Sanchez leaving his start early due to a blister, Sam Gaviglio took over and pitched three scoreless inning giving up a hit and a walk with a strikeout for his third win. Javy Guerra logged three innings allowing two hits and striking out two for his first save. Fantasy baseball’s a helluva drug, right?..Pitching with a four run lead, Felipe Vazquez coughed up a two-run home run to Ty France. Just a blip and not in high leverage. Vazquez remains 12-for-12 in save conversions…Happy trails to Addison Reed, designated for assignment by the Twins. Taking odds on which National League East team he ends up on?