Bullpen Report: September 21, 2019

Although Brad Hand returned to Cleveland’s bullpen, Carlos Carrasco recorded his first save of the season working 1.1 scoreless innings while walking one. Carrasco’s story this year cannot be ignored and he’s turned in two straight scoreless outings as a reliever. His ability to work multiple innings could translate to more save chances down the stretch. Perhaps Terry Francona wishes to ease Hand back into high leverage in order to ensure success. Following heavy usage in the first half, Hand struggled after the All-Star break with a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings from July 15th on, including four home runs in the 19 game stretch. Hand owners will need to monitor his usage and effectiveness once he returns to the mound but remain hopeful since he did record five consecutive saves before leaving the team for an MRI. He last pitched on September eighth. All reports suggest Hand’s bullpen sessions went well leading up to last night. Stay tuned.

Providing Taylor Rogers with rest, Trevor May notched his second save striking out the side versus Kansas City last night. This marks May’s first save since June 11th. Over his last 24 appearances, May’s surged with a 1.50 ERA, 32:5 K:BB in 24 innings, a 0.63 WHIP and .122/.172/.280 slash line against. With Minnesota playing for the division, May will continue to log high leverage innings and could garner his owners one more save while protecting ratios the last week of the season.

Houston received a boost with the return of Ryan Pressly. Pressly tossed a clean seventh inning striking out two in his first outing since August 20th. Will Harris worked a clean eighth inning with a strikeout and Roberto Osuna locked down his 36th save navigating around a hit with two strikeouts. So far in September, Osuna’s returned to his dominant ways yielding one earned run in 8.1 innings with 12 strikeouts converting his last five save chances.

Fueling the Brewers recent hot streak, the bullpen keeps stockpiling arms. Corbin Burnes returned to action last night firing a clean inning with a strikeout. He’s been too volatile to own this year but adds much needed depth to the Milwaukee relief corps aligning with trying to shorten games for wins. It’s working with the Brewers winning six of their last seven and 13 of its last 15 contests. Those searching for ratio protection should look to Freddy Peralta and Drew Pomeranz. Peralta’s been unscored upon in six of his last seven appearances with an 18:2 K:BB this month in 8.2 innings. Even more dominant, Pomeranz has been scoreless in 15 of his last 16 outings recording a 1.10 ERA his last 16.1 innings with 29 strikeouts versus four walks. Anchoring the bullpen, Josh Hader has converted his last nine save chances and in September struck out 19 against two walks in 9.2 innings.

Quick Hits: Save number 22 for Carlos Martinez. He recorded two outs and walked one in Chicago. Andrew Miller gets his 28th hold tossing 1.1 scoreless innings giving up a hit and striking out one…Ken Giles secured his 21st save with a clean outing in New York with two strikeouts…Washington turned to Daniel Hudson for a two inning save. He yielded three hits but did not give up a run for his fifth save of the season…Blown save number eight for Emilio Pagan coughing up a two-run home run to Mitch Moreland in the ninth inning. Diego Castillo garnered his fourth win pitching a scoreless top of the 11th walking one and striking out two…Chris Bassitt made his first appearance as a reliever with a clean ninth inning striking out two preserving a shutout win for Mike Fiers.

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee

 





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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