Bullpen Report: September 10, 2018

For someone who had managed to pile up 28 saves, Bud Norris never seemed to have a firm grasp on the Cardinals’ closer role. Now he has lost his grip on the job entirely.

On Sunday, Mike Shildt named Carlos Martinez as the team’s new closer, and Norris is being moved to a lower-leverage role, albeit one that will still involve the later innings. Martinez had already been called upon to close out Wednesday’s 7-6 win over the Nationals, as Norris was unavailable, and then he recorded his first save as the team’s official closer on Sunday. His 1-2-3 ninth inning finished off a 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Since joining the bullpen after a DL stint for a shoulder strain, Martinez has allowed one run in 9.1 innings, though mediocre control (40.9 percent Zone%) has contributed to a total of four walks and only seven strikeouts. However, the walks have occurred in just two of his eight relief appearances. While it’s not clear how much he will help with strikeouts or WHIP, Martinez could offer a boost for saves during the home stretch. He is not widely available on some sites, but Martinez’s ownership rates (e.g., 59 percent on ESPN, 72 percent on CBS) are low enough on some that it is worth checking the waiver wire. (I was surprised to see he was still available in one of my 12-team mixed leagues.)

While the Cardinals have stabilized their closer situation for the time being, other situations could be in flux soon, if not already. Brad Boxberger absorbed his third loss in eight days on Sunday. He recorded only one out in the top of the ninth inning against the Braves, and that was only after he had already allowed Ender Inciarte’s three-run homer, which erased the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 lead.

With his team now 2-1/2 games behind the division-leading Rockies, it’s hard to imagine Torey Lovullo sticking with Boxberger much longer. Given that he has already taken to using lefty Andrew Chafin to get outs in high-leverage situations (including in the ninth inning), it’s conceivable that Lovullo could soon move to a closer committee. Righties Yoshihisa Hirano and Brad Ziegler and southpaw Jake Diekman would appear to be candidates to be part of a committee, based on recent usage and performance. Since Lovullo has yet to indicate a change at closer, this is merely speculation for now.

The Corey Knebel of old appears to be back, but can he reclaim the closer’s role for the Brewers? In five September appearances, Knebel has tossed five perfect innings and recorded 10 strikeouts, and on Sunday, he got a four-out save against the Giants. However, Jeremy Jeffress had pitched on Friday and Saturday, with the more recent outing requiring him to throw 32 pitches. Still, Knebel has apparently shown enough for Craig Counsell to include him in the mix for saves. He cited Jeffress, Knebel, Josh Hader and Joakim Soria as potential closer options going forward.

Counsell even went so far as to say that Jeffress would not necessarily be getting the bulk of the future save chances. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “J.J.’s kind of fit in the back with the teams we’ve played and their lineups, but it could be different with some other teams and just how the game goes.” As steady as Jeffress has been, he may not be the best option for saves in shallower formats from here on out.

Owners could be concerned about Sean Doolittle, given that Davey Martinez used him in the eighth inning in his first game back from the DL, rather than hold him back for a potential ninth-inning save opportunity. In a rain-soaked Saturday doubleheader against the Cubs, Doolittle relieved Koda Glover in the second game with one out and a one-run lead. Martinez explained that he wanted to use Doolittle in a critical situation before another rain delay could be called. Doolittle retired pinch hitter Daniel Murphy and Victor Caratini, and then Greg Holland recorded the save in the ninth inning.

It seems safe to presume, given Martinez’s explanation, that Doolittle will likely get back to closing with the Nationals’ next opportunity.

When Anthony Swarzak went on the DL for right shoulder inflammation back on Aug. 5, he had been part of the Mets’ closer contingent. He was activated on Saturday, but he did not appear in a game over the weekend. The Mets had a 6-3 lead over the Phillies on Sunday, but after pitching a perfect eighth innning, Seth Lugo came back out for the ninth inning. He did allow a Carlos Santana solo homer, but the three-run cushion allowed Lugo to post his second save of the season. Robert Gsellman had picked up the last three saves for the Mets. Swarzak could conceivably re-enter the mix, but I have left him out of the closer grid until we can get a better sense of his role over the final three weeks of the season.

Quick hits: Kenley Jansen flew to Cincinnati to meet up with the Dodgers for their series with the Reds, after skipping the weekend series in Colorado, due to concerns regarding his arrythmia…Craig Kimbrel has struggled for much of the second half, but he appears to be rebounding in September. He was credited with a win on Sunday after pitching a perfect top of the ninth inning against the Astros, and with Mitch Moreland driving in the winning run against Hector Rondon in the bottom half of the inning. Kimbrel has not allowed a run or a hit in three innings this month, and he has notched five strikeouts…Blake Parker came in for the ninth inning for a save opportunity against the White Sox, but after getting the first two outs, he gave way to Jose Alvarez. Inheriting runners on the corners, the lefty struck out Nick Delmonico for the final out and the save…Ken Giles also recorded a one-out save for the Blue Jays, as David Paulino issued a two-out walk to Brandon Barnes, followed by an Erik Gonzalez single. Giles retired Francisco Lindor to finish off the 6-2 win over the Indians…The Mariners manufactured the winning run against Dellin Betances in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, leaving the Yankees’ closer with his fifth loss of the season. Betances walked Mitch Haniger, who went to second on a steal and to third on Jean Segura’s sacrifice bunt. Then Haniger scored on a fielder’s choice….Raisel Iglesias also took a loss for the Reds, giving up a leadoff home run to Eric Hosmer in a 6-6 tie with the Padres in the top of the ninth inning.