Bullpen Report: May 6, 2013

• As Colin suggested last night, the Red Sox placed Andrew Bailey on the DL backdated by a week. He should return in not too long if the soreness subsides in his biceps, but if Bailey has one weakness it’s his ability to stay healthy.  Joel Hanrahan would theoretically be back to his pre-season role as the full time closer for the Sox but Hanrahan blew the save tonight off of a Brian Dozier home run and left the game with an injury. We’ll have to wait to hear more information on Hanrahan but behind him in the seventh and eighth innings is Junichi Tazawa  and Koji Uehara who have both been fantastic this season. One of them could figure to pick up a save if Hanrahan were to miss any time and both should be considered great options for holds this week as well. While Uehara won’t pitch consecutive days for the Red Sox I assume he’ll get the first nod for saves if Hanrahan and Bailey were to be out.

• Greg Holland blew his second save of the season today allowing one run and letting five guys reach base in his inning of work. In extras, Kelvin Herrera threw two frames but allowed a run himself in the 11th inning via a home run from Jordan Danks.  For Holland, today’s earned run marked the first he’s given up in his last nine innings pitched. Meanwhile, since blowing away everyone in early April, Kelvin Herrera has given up eight earned runs in his last nine innings pitched with an insane six home runs allowed in that span. Herrera won’t maintain a 37.5% HR/FB all season and his xFIP of 3.02 is more indicative of what to expect moving forward over his 5.02 ERA and 6.85 FIP but his struggles have certainly given Holland plenty of cushion on his hold in the ninth inning, even if he blows a save here and there. It also doesn’t hurt when you have a K% inches away from 40%.

• Fernando Rodney finished 2012 as one of the best pitchers (including starters) in fantasy baseball, but 2013 hasn’t been so kind him. Rodney blew his second save tonight against the Blue Jays attempting the five-out save and now supports a 5.06/5.73/4.38 ERA/FIP/xFIP and a horrendous 7.59 BB/9. Rodney’s 2012 should give him a longer leash than other closers but the only year he’s ever exhibited an semblance of control was 2012 and if that performance remains the exception and not a new rule, Joe Maddon might look Joel Peralta’s way. Peralta has only allowed two earned runs in 13.2 innings with a 1.91 FIP and a 9.88 K/9. The strikeouts are down from his 2012 career high of 11.28 K/9 but Peralta’s actually missed more bats this season with a career high 13.6% SwStr%, up from last year’s 12.7%. I won’t suggest a change is imminent, but Peralta is ownable in a set up role and is an intriguing target for those in need of saves.

Closer Grid:

 

	Closer	First	Second	DL/Minors
Arizona	J.J. Putz	David Hernandez	Heath Bell
Atlanta	Craig Kimbrel	Eric O’Flaherty	Jordan Walden
Baltimore	Jim Johnson	Darren O’Day	Pedro Strop
Boston	Joel Hanrahan	Koji Uehara	Junichi Tazawa	Andrew Bailey
CHI (NL)	Kevin Gregg	Carlos Marmol	James Russell	Kyuji Fujikawa
CHI (AL)	Addison Reed	Jesse Crain	Matt Thornton
Cincy	Aroldis Chapman	Jonathan Broxton	J.J. Hoover
Cleveland	Chris Perez	Vinnie Pestano	Joe Smith
Colorado	Rafael Betancourt	Wilton Lopez	Matt Belisle
Detroit	Jose Valverde	Joaquin Benoit	Al Alburquerque
Houston	Jose Veras	Wesley Wright	Hector Ambriz
KC	Greg Holland	Kelvin Herrera	Tim Collins
LAA	Ernesto Frieri	Scott Downs	Jerome Williams	Ryan Madson
LAD	Brandon League	Kenley Jansen	Ronald Belisario
Miami	Steve Cishek	A.J. Ramos	Chad Qualls
Milwaukee	Jim Henderson	John Axford	Michael Gonzalez
Minnesota	Glen Perkins	Jared Burton	Casey Fien
NY (NL)	Bobby Parnell	Brandon Lyon	LaTroy Hawkins	Frank Francisco
NY (AL)	Mariano Rivera	David Robertson	Joba Chamberlain
Oakland	Grant Balfour	Ryan Cook	Sean Doolittle
Philly	Jonathan Papelbon	Mike Adams	Antonio Bastardo
Pittsburgh	Jason Grilli	Mark Melancon	Tony Watson
St. Louis	Edward Mujica	Trevor Rosenthal	Fernando Salas	Jason Motte
SD	Huston Street	Luke Gregerson	Dale Thayer
SF	Sergio Romo	Santiago Casilla	Jeremy Affeldt
Seattle	Tom Wilhelmsen	Carter Capps	Charlie Furbush
TB	Fernando Rodney	Joel Peralta	Jake McGee
Texas	Joe Nathan	Jason Frasor	Tanner Scheppers
Toronto	Casey Janssen	Steve Delabar	Darren Oliver	Sergio Santos
Wash.	Rafael Soriano	Drew Storen	Tyler Clippard

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]