Bullpen Report: Sunday, September 13, 2015
Mike Scioscia called on Huston Street for a third consecutive game, and he was not able to hold a three-run lead against the Astros, as the roof caved in and he surrendered five runs, all earned including a pair of homers. Joe Smith and Trevor Gott were strong, earning their 32nd and tenth holds respectively. Street sat 89.9 with the sinker, and generated four whiffs from the 13 of them that he threw. The pitch that Jed Lowrie hit out appeared to be a change that Street left up and in. Just an awful spot for a changeup. The ball just landed beyond Kole Calhoun’s outstretched glove, as he appeared to get hung up on the wall on his jump. You know Street will be back out there the next time the Angels need a save, unless it’s in Seattle tomorrow as he’s pitched three days in a row. Joe Smith has also pitched three days in a row, so Fernando Salas would be next in line if an opportunity arises tomorrow.
Since re-claiming the closer’s job in Denver, John Axford has picked up six saves in 8.7 innings. He’s got a 37.5% K%-BB%, and has been very reliable. His 0.81 WHIP is going to help you in your ratios as well if you held on to him through his struggles and subsequent demotion from the role. He picked up his 23rd save of the year against the Mariners.
Eleven relievers threw up zeroes in Tampa on Sunday, as the Red Sox and Rays remained scoreless through twelve. Enny Romero gave up a pair in the top of the 13th, and Robbie Ross Jr. came on for his second save. He’s firming up his grip on the closer role in the Boston pen, and barring a string of ineffectiveness, there isn’t much there in the way of challengers to the throne.
The Braves took a 7-4 lead into the top of the ninth inning, and Peter Moylan and Ryan Kelly combined to surrender three runs, all of them coming on a home run by Daniel Murphy with two out. They saw action because Arodys Vizcaino had pitched two days in a row and was getting the day off. Edwin Jackson was unable to work around a throwing error, three walks and a hit, and the Mets lit him up for three unearned runs. Jeurys Familia and Tyler Clippard had pitched consecutive days, with Familia seeing the mound five of the last six days heading into play on Sunday, so Addison Reed got the nod and didn’t disappoint, picking up his fourth save of the year.
The Pirates bullpen had to come up huge on Sunday if they wanted to keep their hot streak alive. Francisco Liraino didn’t get out of the third inning. After Joe Blanton got them to the fifth, six relievers put up seven scoreless innings, striking out six, highlighted by two scoreless innings from Arquimedes Caminero. The Pirates have plenty of options in the pen, but their grid is still very green.
Notes From Sunday: Carter Capps threw a bullpen and is set to head out on the road with the Marlins as they begin their road trip Monday in New York. Ken Giles(13) grabbed a save for the Phillies. Kenley Jansen gave up a three-run homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The Dodgers had given him four runs to play with, so it wasn’t a save opportunity, and it also wasn’t a blown save. So he succeeded?
Notes From Saturday: Aroldis Chapman struck out the side on 11 pitches to earn his 30th save. Dennis Tepera and Mark Lowe each picked up their first saves on the year as the Blue Jays swept the Yankees in a doubleheader. The Jays big three of Roberto Osuna, Aaron Sanchez, and Brett Cecil pitched in the 11 inning opener, and John Gibbons kept them dry in the nightcap. Joe Maddon turned to his closer in a tie game on the road, and Hector Rondon gave up a game-ending homer to Cody Asche. Ken Giles picked up his sixth win, with three strikeouts in his 1.3 innings. Arodys Vizcaino continued his recent struggles, and he’s now given up runs in three of his last four outings. His velocity is fine, but the results aren’t. He’s still the best option in the beleaguered Atlanta pen. On the other side of the diamond, Jeurys Familia racked up his 40th save. Tyler Clippard allowed the Braves to tie the game in the eighth, giving up a three-run shot to Adonis Garcia. Sean Doolittle gave up a pair to the Rangers in the ninth, but still protected a four-run lead for the win. He touched 95, so the velocity wasn’t an issue. A.J. Ramos(27) and Huston Street(35) also picked up saves. Drew Storen broke his right thumb slamming his locker last week, and he’s done for the year. Matt Thornton will slot onto the grid.
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.
please help! H2H playoffs and freakish injury means a scandinavian must go – which closer will i regret dropping least over the next two weeks? jepsen or wilhelmsen?