Bullpen Report: May 28, 2019

Why do bullpens matter? It’s a question worth pondering, especially for Max Scherzer owners. Scherzer’s recorded nine quality starts this year and the Nationals own a 2-10 record in his starts. He left with a one run lead after six innings and 103 pitches. Tanner Rainey walked the lead-off hitter, Miguel Rojas, never a great start for a reliever. A sacrifice bunt, fielding error, then a lineout by Curtis Granderson moved Rojas to third. He scored on a groundout resulting in an unearned run, but Scherzer’s lead evaporated. Basically, a microcosm of frustrated Scherzer owners and Nationals fans alike.

Kyle Barraclough also allowed an unearned run in the top of the eighth giving the Marlins the lead. Barraclough joined the Nationals in the off-season via a trade from Miami. He can tantalize with bouts of brilliance, but, the constant traffic allowed caps his upside, especially for a team believing it’s a contender. Boring old Sergio Romo racked up his 10th save with a clean bottom of the ninth against Washington. Romo’s converted three straight saves and 10 for 11 this season. Funny, he ended up with Miami via free agency and seems to be the type of lower priced veteran a team would envy. Sometimes the irony writes itself.

After a week to forget, Mychal Givens will work in lower leverage situations going forward as discussed in this link by the Baltimore Sun. Acquired by the Orioles from Seattle, Shawn Armstrong notched his first save with his new team working around a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning. Armstrong, designated for assignment by Seattle, has thrown 11 innings with Baltimore giving up seven hits, three earned runs, six walks and striking out 11 for a 2.54 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. His walk rate could improve, but in the short term, Armstrong along with Paul Fry could share the saves load with Givens trying to regain his command and return to the top of the bullpen hierarchy.

Roberto Osuna held on for his 14th save, but coughed up solo home runs to Albert Almora and Addison Russell on Sunday. Osuna’s allowed runs in three straight appearances with two saves and a blown save in them. Within this stretch, he’s ceded seven hits, five earned runs and a walk with five strikeouts. This could be a simple blip while regressing to the mean, but, be sure to monitor his performance going forward. Ryan Pressly recorded his 13th hold issuing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless eighth inning. If Osuna needs a day off, Pressly could fill-in for a save chance this week.

Extra innings provided the Rockies with a come from behind win over the Diamondbacks. Archie Bradley entered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and a two-run lead. But, Bradley allowed a base hit to the scorching hot Nolan Arenado allowing two of the three inherited runners to score. Jimmy Sherfy somehow navigated through four walks in 1.1 innings keeping the game tied before Matt Andriese allowed a double to Ian Desmond in the bottom of the 11th, then the game winning single by Raimel Tapia. Seung-Hwan Oh garnered the win, his second, after firing a clean top of the 11th for Colorado. Scott Oberg turned in a scoreless ninth giving up a hit and striking out two. Wade Davis played catch for the third straight day, however, he’s yet to throw off a mound keeping Oberg in as the interim closer for this scoring period.

Tough day for David Hernandez in Game 1 of the doubleheader. He allowed four earned runs on three hits and a hit batter while recording only one out against the Pirates. Kyle Crick benefited with the win in spite of getting his second blown save allowing an inherited runner to score in the bottom of the seventh. Crick did work 1.1 innings yielding a hit and two walks with a strikeout. Felipe Vazquez notched his 14th save but ceded a run in the bottom of the ninth. Vazquez yielded two hits and the earned run with two strikeouts over his 1.1 inning outing. He remains 14-for-14 in save chances this year, but has allowed runs in two of his last three appearances.

Milwaukee sparked a comeback win over the Twins getting two runs on a home run by Orlando Arcia. This marks the first home run over the wall against Taylor Rogers this year, he served up an inside the park homer to Adalberto Mondesi, and results in Rogers first loss since May 29th of last season. This also marks the second time Minnesota’s lost when leading after seven innings this year. They gave up a lead against the Blue Jays in April. Josh Hader locked down his 13th save working two innings giving up two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. It’s the 12th career six out save recorded by Hader who continues to surge leading all qualified relievers with a ridiculous 51.5 strikeout percentage and lowering his ERA to 2.33 with an accompanying 1.92 xFIP. Corbin Burnes garnered his first win tossing a clean eighth inning striking out two. Also, early reports indicate Jeremy Jeffress will be fine, but his matrix like reflexes highlight the danger of comeback line drives:

Matrix catch by Jeremy Jeffress. Wow. pic.twitter.com/LZUhU5qvMJ

— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) May 28, 2019

Quick Hits: Aroldis Chapman secured his 15th save working around a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. He lost his 27 game streak of recording at least a strikeout in this outing. Zack Britton gets his 11th hold and has a 11:1 K:BB rate over his last 11.1 innings. Tommy Kahnle notched his ninth hold with a clean inning striking out two. Since April 17th, Kahnle’s racked up 26 strikeouts against two walks in 17.1 innings lowering his ERA from 3.86 to 1.64 in the process. Adam Ottavino turned in a scoreless inning, he’s fired 14.1 straight scoreless innings. It’s expensive, but investing in a bullpen can pay dividends with the Yankees winning 12 of their last 14 contests and 26 over their last 34 games…Jose Alvarado gets his sixth hold working around a walk in a scoreless eighth inning…Save number 11 for Blake Treinen. He allowed a hit with two strikeouts and converted his last five chances. Joakim Soria fired a clean eighth for his sixth hold and Lou Trivino gets his 12th hold giving up a hit and striking out one…Kenley Jansen worked 1.2 scoreless, aided by a tremendous assist from right field by Cody Bellinger, giving up a hit and striking out three on 19 pitches. Joe Kelly continues to struggle allowing three hits and two earned runs without recording an out…Jose LeClerc had his hitless streak snapped at 20 batters by an opposite field single off the bat of Kyle Seager. LeClerc also coughed up a bomb to Daniel Vogelbach leading to two earned runs. No clarity in the Mariners bullpen, but Cory Gearrin pitched in the sixth inning, Jessie Biddle notched his first hold with Seattle in a 1.1 inning outing giving up a hit and striking out one. Austin Adams recorded two outs in the eighth but Anthony Bass pitched the ninth with a four run lead. So, it could have been Roenis Elias or Brandon Brennan for the save chance, but it remains shared in our grid.