Bullpen Report: September 15, 2016
Tyler Thornburg has pretty much been nails since taking over the ninth-inning role for the Brewers following the trade deadline deals of both Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith. He’s accumulated the second-most WAR among qualified relievers over the last month (0.6 WAR) thanks in part to a pretty 0.00 ERA (2.71 FIP) and successfully converting five saves in six opportunities. Tonight, Thornburg needed four outs and 33 pitches (18 strikes – eight called, one swinging) to earn his 10th save of the season, but surrendered a hit and a couple of free passes along the way. All is green in Milwaukee for Thornburg.
Alex Colome surrendered a pair of hits in Baltimore tonight, but also fanned a pair of Orioles to seal his 33nd save of the season in a 7-6 victory for Tampa Bay. Colome needed just 13 pitches (10 strikes – one called, one swinging) to close out Baltimore. On the year, Colome is 33-of-35 in save opportunities with a 1.97 ERA (3.08 FIP) and a 11.8 K/BB in 60.1 frames on the hill. He owned a career best 15.8% SwStr%, 25.1% K-BB% and 51.8% GB% prior to Thursday’s action. Bradley Boxberger picked up the win on the Rays’ behalf — his fourth of the season.
Dellin Betances served up four earned runs on three hits and a walk to earn the blown save — his fifth of the season — and the loss — his sixth on the year — in a crucial loss to their chief rival Red Sox, 7-5. The Yankees’ right-hander is now 11-of-16 in save opportunities with a 2.83 ERA (1.71 FIP) and a 15.43 K/9 in 70 innings in ‘16. Despite the seven earned runs allowed in the past week or more, Betances will remain green in New York.
Quick Hitters: Patrick Corbin picked up his first save and second of his career tonight in a three-inning effort while striking out four. Jason Grilli (19), Joaquin Benoit (16), Tommy Layne (10), Danny Farquhar (4), Erasmo Ramirez (14), Alex Wimmers (1), Carlos Torres (15) and J.T. Chargois (2) notched holds on Thursday.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
In addition to contributing to the RotoGraphs blog, you can find Alan at his own site, TheFantasyFix.com and follow his nonsense on Twitter @TheFantasyFix.
This is nitpicky but Liberatore definitely should not be second for LAD anymore. You could make a case for Dayton or Baez, but not Lib.
In DET, Bruce Rondon should be ahead of at least one (and probably both) of the Wilsons.
MIA may be somewhat in flux behind Ramos. It may be too early to make the change in the chart, but I expect this weekend’s usage (if opportunities arise) to show David Phelps ahead of one or both of Rodney and Bearclaw.