Bullpen Report: May 22, 2018

• After missing out on previous save opportunities, Hector Neris saw the night inning last night and threw a perfect frame for his 9th save on the year. Seranthony Dominguez got the call before Neris in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning allowing one hit and a strike out for his fourth hold, keeping his ERA at a pristine 0.00. Edubray Ramos had last pitched on Thursday, so he would have been available in this game, suggesting that Dominguez and Neris are ahead of him in the pecking order. We’re still considering this a committee but it looks like Neris is back in action after a rough outing on May 11th. Additionally, although he’s only a rookie getting his first sip at the majors, Dominguez might be the best of the bunch with a 16.2% SwStr% and 8 strikeouts and 0 walks in his 7.2 innings this year. If/when Neris falters again, I would expect Dominguez, with a little more seasoning under his belt, to leapfrog  Ramos and the other committee members for save opportunities.

• Robert Gsellman stayed in the game for the save on Sunday for the Mets since Jeurys Familia had thrown the previous two games but last night Familia was back in action, closing the door on the Marlins for his 13th save. A.J. Ramos got four outs in the 6th and 7th with Seth Lugo setting up in the 8th. I would expect Lugo to be used for more multi-inning outings with Gsellman likely seeing the higher leverage innings but he was likely unavailable having thrown 1.2 innings the previous day. Ramos has always been considered the next in line for the Mets but his control is still suspect with 5.5 BB/9, and with Gsellman closing out the last game, it’s possible he could be the guy to own if something were to happen to Familia. I will keep the grid the same for now, but monitor how the Mets use their bullpen moving forward to see if a change is to be made.

• Corey Knebel has seen the ninth inning since his return from the DL but he finally saw a save chance last night and pitched a perfect inning for his 2nd save on the year. In his 5 appearances since coming back, Knebel has allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts with a great 81.8 GB% but a meager 3.1 SwStr%.  His velocity is in line with where it sat in April although for the year it’s about 1 mph slower than 2017. With only 7.2 innings under his belt this year and a month missed to injury, I’m not concerned and think the velo and whiff rate will rise, even if it it doesn’t reach 2017 levels. While Josh Hader might snag a few multi-inning saves, I’m removing the committee here with Knebel back as the main ninth inning closer and Hader doing his insane set up thing in the previous innings.

• Quick Hits: Darren O’Day remains on the DL but Brad Brach might just have the job regardless, pitching around three baserunners for his 7th save of the year last night against the White Sox. Joakim Soria and Bruce Rondon pitched for the Sox, which helps confirm Nate Jones and Jace Fry ahead of them in the grid. Fernando Rodney shot a 10th arrow in the air last night. It seems like every year a laughably old Rodney struggles in the ninth, almost loses the job and then goes on extended heater, ending the year with a bunch of fairly consistent saves. Adam Ottavino –> Wade Davis continued it’s magic this year as both pitched a scoreless inning with Ottavino picking up his 11th hold and Davis his 17th save.