Bullpen Report: May 26, 2018

Drafting Alex Colome comes with inherent risk due to his sometimes volatile nature. Colome started the season giving up seven earned runs and 14 hits over his initial seven innings in eight outings resulting in two blown saves. His five losses leads the majors of all qualified relievers. However, Colome seemed to right the ship with a 1.84 ERA during his last 15 innings, including 10 consecutive saves with 17 strikeouts since April ninth. Many believed Colome would be traded to a contender, just not in May. However, Seattle bolstered its already strong bullpen by acquiring Colome to pitch in a setup role and provide insurance for Edwin Diaz along with necessary days off to keep him healthy.

Trying to predict how Kevin Cash will navigate high leverage innings in the near term seems impossible to do. The dreaded committee approach seems prudent to plan on with Chaz Roe, Jose Alvarado and Sergio Romo figuring in the mix. Roe’s struggled of late with a 6.75 ERA his last 12 appearances (six earned runs in eight innings) dating back to April 27th. HE has entered a Rays game in a tie or with a lead 19 of 24 times and in the seventh inning or later in 16 outings. Most fantasy owners would like to see Jose Alvarado ascend to the closer role due to his effectiveness this year along with his enticing fastball.

Alvarado’s produced a 2.38 ERA his last 11 appearances (three earned runs in 11.1 innings) but displayed his upside on Wednesday striking out four of the five batters he faced in a clean 1.2 inning outing. He also ranks fourth in the majors of relievers with at least 10 innings pitched in regards to average fastball velocity (98 MPH) and second in the American League to fellow southpaw, Aroldis Chapman. After making his third start of the season, perhaps veteran Sergio Romo will return to a more traditional role and work in the ninth inning if needed. Romo did give up a run on Friday, but it snapped a scoreless streak which spanned six appearances. Over his last seven games, Romo’s pitched 7.1 innings allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks with nine strikeouts. He’s lowered his ERA from 6.75 to 4.66 in the process. Invest with trepidation since there’s been no announcement as to who to target by the beat writers.

Not to be outdone, just when it seemed fantasy owners settled on Tyler Clippard as the Blue Jays reliever to own in Roberto Osuna’s absence, enter Ryan Tepera into the fray. Clippard worked in the eighth inning on Friday night in Philadelphia giving up two hits and an earned run with a strikeout. This marks the third time in his last four outings Clippard’s allowed a run resulting in seven earned runs in a cumulative three innings. Tepera did lock down his first save of the year but he also allowed an earned run on two hits and two walks with a strikeout. He’s also yielded a run in two of his last three inning but with two holds and a save. Perhaps its time to give Seung-Hwan Oh a look in the ninth? Oh has only yielded a hit in four of his last 13 games (14.1 innings), pitched a scoreless seventh inning for his third straight hold. Of course, he also allowed three earned runs on the 17th against the A’s but has a 2.31 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP in May. Once again, invest with trepidation.

While Seattle added to its bullpen, the Indians continue to struggle to find effective relievers for theirs. After last night’s implosion giving up 11 earned runs in the last two innings, Cleveland’s relievers now rank last in team ERA (6.23) and strikeouts (127) in the majors. They’re also fourth worst in terms of WHIP (1.57). Part of the problem could be health. Andrew Miller owns a 14.65 ERA and 3.02 WHIP in 4.1 innings since returning from the disabled list. He’s had three blown saves giving up seven earned runs in 4.1 innings with six walks and six strikeouts. Cody Allen only pitched one-third of an inning on Friday walking in a run, hitting a batter and giving up a hit. He’s not recorded a save since May 23rd and only has two since April 25th. There’s time to address the needs in terms of setup relievers, but for Allen’s sake, it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Milwaukee’s bullpen thrived despite losing its All-Star closer Corey Knebel early this year due to injury. He’s returned atop the hierarchy pitching in the ninth inning on Friday but struggled with his command walking three and giving up a hit in only two-thirds of an inning. Knebel did save back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday but his five free passes over his last 5.1 innings should provide some caution for his owners. Josh Hader whiffed four batters against a walk in two scoreless inning en route to his eighth hold. Hader’s struck out 56.8 percent of hitters this season totaling 62 in 31.1 innings. Jeremy Jeffress garnered the win in relief allowing a hit in 1.1 scoreless innings extending his personal streak to 22 games and 21.2 innings since giving up his last run.

Quick Hits: League leaders Edwin Diaz and Wade Davis each closed out their 18th saves on Friday night. Diaz saved his fifth game of Seattle’s last 11 played with a clean ninth with a strikeout. He’s limited hitters to a .105 batting average against this season in 26.1 innings with a 1.71 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Davis also turned in a clean inning with two strikeouts for the Rockies. This represents his 10th outing with multiple strikeouts and extended his scoreless outing streak to five games. Save number 11 for Kenley Jansen in a clean outing with two strikeouts. He’s converted his last nine saves in a row and dating back to April 21st, has made 15 appearances yielding only one earned run in 16 innings (0.56 ERA) with 18 strikeouts against three walks. One out save for Brandon Morrow, his 11th on the season, and 18th scoreless outing in his 19 this year. Aroldis Chapman worked 1.1 clean innings with a strikeout for his 10th save. Angels reliever Jim Johnson pitched in the seventh taking the loss giving up a home run in two-thirds of an inning. Shane Greene notched his 12th save and fourth in six games allowing a hit with a strikeout. Joe Kelly worked a scoreless seventh and has yielded one run over his last 22 outings (23.1 innings) with 25 strikeouts. Craig Kimbrel worked in a non-save appearance giving up only his fifth hit to a right-handed batter with two strikeouts. Brad Brach recorded his eighth save despite giving two hits. Sean Doolittle retired all five hitters he faced en route to his 10th save with two strikeouts adding to his ridiculous 35:3 K:BB in 22.1 innings this year. Seth Lugo extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings working two innings with three strikeouts. A.J. Ramos struggled once again walking the winning run in and giving free passes to the only two hitters he faced.Keone Kela also benefited from a one-out save allowing a walk but getting Salvador Perez to fly out with the bases loaded.