Bullpen Report: May 4, 2019

May the fourth be with you, and the force be strong in the unyielding chase for saves. During a game with twists and turns in the win probabilities, the Giants outlasted the Reds despite trailing by eight runs at the end of the third inning. Raisel Iglesias incurred his second blown save giving up a game tying home run to Stephen Vogt in the top of the ninth inning. It’s been a tumultuous season for Iglesias, who seemed to be turning the corner of late, but he’s been asked to record more than three outs in three of his last four outings and five times of his 14 outings this season.

Prior to Iglesias, Amir Garrett received credit for his fourth hold in spite of allowing two earned runs on two hits along with letting both inherited runners score. Igleisas replaced Garrett giving up a single to Evan Longoria, allowing another inherited runner to score before striking out Brandon Crawford, leading to the ninth inning. Plus, Michael Lorenzen surrendered four hits and two earned runs in the top of the seventh, giving the Giants momentum leading to Jared Hughes serving up the game winning home run by Evan Longoria. Benefiting from all of this, Reyes Moronta garnered his first win walking one and striking out three in the top of the 10th inning. Then, Will Smith notched his eighth save striking out two in a clean bottom of the 11th preserving the comeback win. Three of the four earned runs allowed by Smith this year occurred in a non-save appearance versus the Yankees, but his underlying numbers backup his talent as a late inning high leverage option. Not sure if the Giants will trade relievers as the season progresses, but, Smith would be a highly sought after commodity if he lands on the market.

Tough night for Anthony Swarzak in Cleveland. Not only did he absorb his first loss of the year, he’s allowed runs in five straight outings. Against the Indians, Swarzak walked Francisco Lindor to open the inning, never a good thing. A fielder’s choice ground out by Leonys Martin preceded a strikeout by Jose Ramirez. However, another walk to Carlos Santana then the game winning single by Tyler Naquin sealed Swarzak’s fate. Although three of the seven runs he’s yielded over his last 4.2 innings were unearned, six walks versus three strikeouts will not provide a warm fuzzy for his owners. Heed Swarzak’s 4.48 xFIP and 1.50 WHIP when evaluating his value going forward. Roenis Elias was available Friday night and could receive the next save chance for the Mariners if he’s past his “soreness”. Brad Hand benefited with his first win giving up a hit with two strikeouts in the top of the ninth for Cleveland.

Despite the gaudy save total, it seems like Shane Greene continues to fly below the fantasy radar. He recorded his 13th save, of Detroit’s 14 wins this year, working around a home run to Jorge Soler. This marks the first earned run given up by Greene since April 16th, but his ERA of 1.80 and 0.73 WHIP through 15 innings reinforce his strong start to the season. On the other hand, the saves leader this year, Kirby Yates, also having a terrific start the to 2019, coughed up a double to Austin Barnes opening his outing in the top of the ninth of a tied game. Yates bounced back striking out Joc Pederson, but allowed a single to Max Muncy, scoring Barnes, ceding the lead. Strikeouts of Matt Beaty and Cody Bellinger ended the inning. Yates still owns a 1.06 ERA and 1.97 xFIP, but with a 1.06 WHIP.

For only the second time this year, Kenley Jansen registered all three outs via strikeout in the bottom of the ninth for his 11th save. But, an error by Corey Seager did not allow it to be a clean outing. Jansen’s walked (three) as many hitters as he’s allowed home runs (three) this season with a strange 68.2 strand rate while giving up more fly balls and hard hard contact. It’s tough to assess his stock going forward, but, better days should lie ahead in terms of his ratios if he can generate more ground balls and swinging strikes. Ken Giles did turn in a clean inning striking out the side for his eighth save against the Rangers. Giles owns a 1.76 ERA with a 3.01 xFIP due to an inflated 90.4 strand rate, as a point of comparison to Jansen. Always interesting to see the underlying data, but both remain known commodities as closers these days, almost a rarity.

Greg Holland yielded his first run against in Coors Field, but, held on for his eighth save. Like Giles above, Holland’s pitched well, but some regression could be in the offing with a 0.75 ERA versus a 3.27 xFIP. Buffering Holland’s 90 percent strand percentage, he’s generating ground balls 47.6 percent of the time with an improved swinging strike rate while reducing contact against. He did escape bases loaded with one out after walking Trevor Story, giving up a hit to Nolan Arenado and walking Daniel Murphy with a fielder’s choice ground out, then consecutive strikeouts of Ian Desmond and Chris Iannetta to end the game.

Save number eight for Josh Hader, working two innings against the Mets at home. Hader allowed a hit and a walk with five strikeouts needing 36 pitches. This will keep him sidelined on Saturday opening the door for either Junior Guerra or Jeremy Jeffress to get the potential save chance. As for Hader, his strikeout percentage reached 57.1 percent after this outing and a ridiculous 49.2 strikeouts minus walks percentage. Hader’s ERA sits at 3.24, but his xFIP of 1.25 suggests better days ahead? Mercy.

Quick HitsAroldis Chapman notched his sixth save working around a hit with a strikeout against the Twins. Zack Britton allowed two runs in the top of the eighth, providing Chapman with the save opportunity. Tommy Kahnle registered his 10th straight scoreless outing during which he’s thrown 8.2 innings with 12 strikeouts against one walk…Hector Neris recorded his fifth save giving up a hit with two strikeouts. Pat Neshek tossed a clean eighth, Adam Morgan worked around a hit with a strikeout in the seventh and Seranthony Dominguez garners his third win in relief in spite of allowing a run in the sixth…Jacob Webb yielded a hit with three strikeouts in a non-save outing for the Braves. This aligns either A.J. Minter or Luke Jackson the next save chance….Tracking the Rangers, Chris Martin pitched the ninth inning in a tied game at home while Shawn Kelley matched him with a clean 10th inning. Not sure which will get the call in the next save chance, but Kelley’s recorded one so far this year…Wily Peralta somehow escaped giving up three hits in his non-save outing with a strikeout. However, this could open the door for an Ian Kennedy save on Saturday based on usage.

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee
Bullpen Report — 5/4/2019
Team Closer First Up Second Up Minors/DL
ARI Greg Holland Archie Bradley Yoshihisa Hirano
ATL A.J. Minter Luke Jackson Jacob Webb
BAL Mychal Givens Paul Fry Evan Phillips Nathan Karns
BOS Ryan Brasier Matt Barnes Brandon Workman Brian Johnson
CHC Pedro Strop Steve Cishek Brandon Kintzler Brandon Morrow
CWS Alex Colome Kelvin Herrera Jace Fry Nate Jones
CIN Raisel Iglesias Amir Garrett David Hernandez
CLE Brad Hand Nick Wittgren Adam Cimber
COL Wade Davis Scott Oberg Carlos Estevez
DET Shane Greene Joe Jimenez Victor Alcantara
HOU Roberto Osuna Ryan Pressly Hector Rondon
KC Wily Peralta Ian Kennedy Jake Diekman
LAA Hansel Robles Ty Buttrey Cam Bedrosian Cody Allen
LAD Kenley Jansen Pedro Baez Joe Kelly Caleb Ferguson
MIA Sergio Romo Drew Steckenrider Adam Conley
MIL Josh Hader Junior Guerra Jeremy Jeffress
MIN Blake Parker Taylor Rogers Trevor Hildenberger
NYM Edwin Diaz Seth Lugo Robert Gsellman Jeurys Familia
NYY Aroldis Chapman Adam Ottavino Zack Britton Dellin Betances
OAK Blake Treinen Lou Trivino Joakim Soria
PHI Hector Neris Pat Neshek Adam Morgan David Robertson
PIT Felipe Vazquez Keone Kela Richard Rodriguez Nick Burdi
STL Jordan Hicks Andrew Miller John Gant
SD Kirby Yates Trey Wingenter Craig Stammen
SF Will Smith Tony Watson Reyes Moronta
SEA Anthony Swarzak Roenis Elias Brandon Brennan Hunter Strickland
TB Diego Castillo Jose Alvarado Emilio Pagan
TEX Shawn Kelley Chris Martin Jose LeClerc
TOR Ken Giles Ryan Tepera Joe Biagini
WSH Sean Doolittle Kyle Barraclough Joe Ross

 





Avid fantasy baseball player and writer. You can find my work here chasing the next save or as the lead fantasy analyst on Fantasy Alarm. Any questions, hit me up on the Twitter machine, @gjewett9

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BJ > Yank
4 years ago

Heads up that Jose Alvarado links to Alex Prieto.