Bullpen Report: Sunday, July 26, 2015
Jeurys Familia blew his fourth save of the year for the Mets. For the Mets to make the postseason, they’ll need Familia firing on all cylinders, and for most of the year, he certainly has. Last year’s closer, Jenrry Mejia hasn’t given up a run yet this year, but he did miss the first 80 games due to a suspension. As a result, he’s not available for the postseason. I see Mejia having a place on the grid, but if Familia’s velocity continues to tick down, who will get the save opportunities that the Mets need converted to play in October? Mejia could close games and help them get to the postseason, but then what? Bobby Parnell has been there before, and he’s allowed to pitch in the postseason, should the Mets score some runs and get there. He saved 22 games in 2013. The problem is his miniscule 5.8% K%-BB% in his shortened 2015. And his velocity is down a couple ticks from his healthy 2013. I’d prefer Mejia over Parnell and have slotted him ahead of Parnell on the grid.
Santiago Casilla earned his 26th save on Sunday, but the Oakland bullpen usage was of interest to me. If Tyler Clippard gets dealt this week, who is going to get the save opportunities for the A’s? Evan Scribner has fallen out of favor of late, but he pitched two scoreless innings today. Drew Pomeranz drew a spot start on Thursday after Scott Kazmir was traded prior to the game, but was back in the pen and also threw two scoreless innings. Edward Mujica has closed before, so even though it’s not who I would choose, for fantasy purposes he has to be in the conversation. I’ve still got him on the grid, but that could, and hopefully does, change this week. He didn’t see the mound against the Giants today. Interestingly, the A’s do have in their pen the owner of the fifth lowest FIP amongst relievers who have thrown 20 innings. And he’s sliding onto the grid today and could be a sneaky grab. There’s no clear-cut leader for the closer role once Clippard is dealt, so he’s as a good a bet as any. Oh, Fernando Rodriguez is his name. He’s got a 14.2% SwSt% this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him grabbing ten saves in August and September.
Of Note: Zach Britton struck out three for his 25th save of the year on Sunday. David Robertson gave up a run, but still got the save, his 21st on the year. Mark Melancon picked up save number 32, lowering his ERA to 1.37 in the process. Jim Johnson picked up his ninth save for the Braves, with Aroldys Vizcaino getting the hold in the eighth. He’s the logical candidate to step in if Johnson is moved this week. Craig Kimbrel has 29 saves on the year for the Padres, and may be on the move. Joaquin Benoit or Brendan Maurer will be handy to have if he’s dealt, with Benoit likely being more handy. Brad Ziegler saved his 17th on Sunday. Aaron Sanchez again saw the eighth, again threw a scoreless frame, this time striking out two, touching 98 and generating three whiffs on his 11 pitches. I really like him for some holds and to help your ratios, and you can likely pick him up for a song.
Notes From Saturday: The Blue Jays sent Steve Delabar to AAA and slotted Aaron Sanchez into the pen. He pitched the eighth in a tie game on the road, earning the win with Roberto Osuna nabbing save number five. Rumours abound regarding pitchers and the Jays, so prepare for the Jays grid to be kind of fluid. I like Sanchez and Osuna to stay on the grid once the Jays grab a reliever. Glen Perkins got caught up in the Alex Rodriguez buzzsaw, blowing his second save of the year. He gave up four runs and five hits. Andrew Miller twirled a perfect ninth, earning save number 23. Randy Choate grabbed his first save of the year, with Trevor Rosenthal not seeing action again. He’s still the best reliever in the Cards pen, but recent usage shows that he’s not available on the reg. We’ve said it before and will say it again, keep an eye on the Cards pen. Steve Cishek, Jordan Walden and Kevin Siegrist are all down there and capable. I think Siegrist, even with his great numbers, is the least likely of the three to fill your saves column. Carter Capps stuck out three of the four hitters he retired, continuing his stellar run. With his 45.4% K%-BB%, he trails only Kenley Jansen in that category amongst relievers with 20 IP. He leads that same group with a ridiculous 50.9% K%. Santiago Casilla(25), Aroldis Chapman(20), Brad Ziegler(16), Craig Kimbrel(28) and Shawn Tolleson(17) all saved games on Saturday.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
Darren contributes to RotoGraphs when he isn’t watching the Braves or shoveling snow. Follow him on Twitter @shinesie.
Idea for the grid colors, particularly relevant for this time of year: Rather than each time having the same color, each box should be able to have its own color.
For instance. You could keep Tyler Clippard green. But, make fernando rodriguez and edward mujica red.
Or, you could make Brad Boxberger red. But make Jake Mcgee green, because we know he’s the other guy vying for saves there. This would indicate that the role of closer is not clear, but who the two vying for the spot are *is* clear.
By contrast, you might use the full array of colors for every spot on the Cubs bullpen.
David Ross might even deserve a spot on that grid.