• After some struggles this year, Addison Reed’s (7.20/3.64/4.43 ERA/FIP/xFIP) hold on the closer’s role has loosened. While Chip Hale thinks that Reed will get the job back, he will be used in earlier innings for now as he works through “mechanical changes.” Expect Brad Ziegler to get the first save opportunity that arises, so if he’s available on the wire be sure to get in your claims ASAP. Additionally, Dan Hudson could see some higher leverage work as well with Reed displaced and everyone moving up a step. Hudson is kind of toiling in between relieving and possibly starting but he struggled today, allowing two runs, ballooning his ERA to 6.00. Evan Marshall who figured to play a more prominent role in the pen is now pitching in AAA. Other intriguing names are Randall Delgado who looks a bit better out of the pen and Enrique Burgos, who’s control might prevent him from being trusted much but has massive swing and miss stuff, showing it off today with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Oliver Perez blew the lead and received the loss today, but with his 6.52 ERA he’s still likely more of a LOOGY long term.

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Luke Gregerson recently spent close to a week away from his teammates in order to deal with a personal matter, but returned to the hill yesterday in a scoreless inning of work. However, the 31-year-old right-hander once again left the team tonight to deal with an undisclosed personal matter, leaving Chad Qualls to fend off the Blue Jays in the ninth-inning in a save situation. And that he did, on just 12 pitches. Qualls retired Toronto’s 5-6-7 hitters consecutively — two by ground out, one via strikeout — to notch his fourth save in five opportunities this season. Gregerson is expected back with the team tomorrow (Friday, 5/15) and should assume the closer’s role, unless the Astros’ brass decides to provide the righty with an opportunity to get some work in during a lower leverage situation.

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• Well, we suspected that A.J. Ramos was the odds on favorite for saves in Miami, and he got the first crack at the ninth inning in the post-Steve Cishek era. It went swimmingly, with Ramos fanning two of the three batters he faced in a perfect final frame. Ben covered these guys in depth last night, but Ramos’ 2.78 2015 xFIP paints the picture of a guy who can certainly take the ninth inning and run with it. The one possible chink his armor Read the rest of this entry »

• Steve Cishek’s blow up last night was the last straw as Mike Redmond has removed him from the closer’s role.  Cishek’s seasonal struggles have been well noted in the Bullpen Reports this year. His velocity has been up and down this season and he’s just been too hittable all season long. Roller coasters are fun at an amusement park but when it involves your closer, a change needs to be made. There has been no news on who specifically will replace Cishek and the Marlins figure to mix and match/use a committee for now, until someone takes the job fully. In the mix should be Bryan Morris, Mike Dunn (L),  A.J. Ramos and potentially Rafael Soriano as he and the Marlins are “very much engaged” in talks. As Darren speculated in last night’s BR, based on their seasons thus far you would expect A.J. Ramos to receive the first chance but until we see what he does we won’t really know. It’s possible that Redmond might leave Ramos in the familiar eighth inning and play the matchups with Morris and Dunn. Still, the safe speculation is Ramos, Dunn and Morris, and in that order.

Rafael Soriano wasn’t necessarily bad last year as he had a 3.19/3.08/3.92 ERA/FIP/xFIP line but he also wasn’t impressive enough to find a contract this season, yet. He did save 32 games though, and if the Marlins sign him they could prefer Soriano’s closing experience while keeping the rest of the bullpen in their familiar roles. By the time this is published, the Marlins won’t have a save opportunity to speak about but we’ll be sure to keep you up to date on their bullpen situation along with any additional Soriano rumors. I recognize Cishek isn’t injured or in the minors, but for now I’m placing him in the last column on the closer grid.

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After giving up three runs to the Cubs on April 21, birds of concern were circling around Mark Melancon. He came in with a two-run lead against the Phillies on Monday, and proceeded to give up a home run, a trio of sharp liners and a fly ball to centre, and he walked away with his eighth save of the year. His velocity still isn’t where it was, but is it that big of a deal? He’s pretty much scrapped his four-seamer, going with it 3.9% of the time in 2015, down from 27.3% last year. That’s been replaced with increased usage of the cutter, as he’s throwing it 69.6% of the time. That home run he gave up Monday was the first earned run he’d put up since that April 21 debacle, throwing eight scoreless innings to lower his ERA from 8.53 to 3.77. The lack of strikeouts are a cause for concern, and his 8.9% K%-BB% is well off his 25.6% and 25.1% of the past two seasons, but as long as he keeps getting plays made behind him, he’ll be closing games in Pittsburgh. And also in other cities that the Pirates play in.

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The Rangers bullpen kept their order intact today, as they closed out the Rays 2-1. Not a lot has been written about the Texas pen, probably because it’s the Texas pen, but their moms deserve to hear some love sprinkled on their sons. First, Keone Kela struck out two in the seventh, and he got the W when the Rangers scored a run in the top of the eighth. Don’t be fooled by his 1.93 ERA. That’s helped by an 84.3% LOB rate. His 4.18 xFIP is kind of gross, and his 10.3% K%-BB% is definitely gross. He is the Rangers seventh inning guy, and if something happens to these next two guys, he’s probably next in line. Shawn Tolleson got his fifth hold of the year. One reason that number is so low, is because he’s on the Rangers, and they haven’t provided him with a ton of opportunities. He’s the opposite of Kela. Don’t be fooled by his 4.85 ERA. It’s inflated by a 58.8% LOB rate. His xFIP of 2.10 shows signs of promise, and his 31.3% K%-BB% is downright lovely. Neftali Feliz worked around a couple of hits and got his sixth save of the year.

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Well, it looks like the clouds have lifted on the unsettled closer situation in the Bronx. Joe Girardi finally named Andrew Miller as the official closer of the New York Yankees. This was in the wake of the two-headed Yankee bullpen monster shutting down the Orioles. Dellin Betances came in and retired four Orioles before handing the ball over to Miller in the ninth. Unconfirmed reports have Girardi telling Miller before the game that he could be the official closer if he can go a whole inning without throwing a ball. Miller obliged. He did get a couple of chases out of the zone with the fastball. They aren’t really missing David Robertson. If you want to see pure domination, go back and watch pretty much any Betances or Miller appearance this year.

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Andrew Miller worked around a leadoff walk to Steve Pearce — his eighth free pass allowed this season — to remain a perfect 12-for-12 in save chances for the Yankees this season. Following Pearce, Miller sat down three straight Orioles including strikeouts of Ryan Lavarnway and Caleb Joseph to notch the save and secure the 4-3 victory. Dellin Betances also dished a clean frame in today’s contest to maintain his perfect 0.00 ERA (1.30 FIP) in over 16 innings on the bump this season. Miller and Betances are anchoring a Yankees’ bullpen that was tops in the league in strikeouts (107) and fifth-best in ERA (2.19) entering today’s action.
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• Recently reinstated closer Brett Cecil threw tonight, but unfortunately for fantasy owners, he didn’t pick up a save in a four-run game. However, the outing provided an interesting data point with respect to Cecil’s velocity. Two nights ago, Cecil sat between 93-94 mph — a far cry from the mid-80’s mark he was posting early in the season, and even a tick above last year’s average. Read the rest of this entry »

I guess I missed that internet meme turned actual thing with “may the fourth be with you” last night so tonight I hope everyone enjoyed themselves on Cinco de Mayo. My roommate made Guacamole, so if that counts as celebrating then I did. Anywho, back to the bullpens…

• After allowing a lead-off solo shot to Chris Davis to start the ninth inning, Jeurys Familia retired the next three batters for his league leading 11th save of the year. After tonight’s outing Familia is supporting a 1.88/3.20/2.14 ERA/FIP/xFIP line with a 58.6% GB% and 17 strikeouts against just three walks in 14.1 innings pitched. It’s impossible for Familia to hold a .107 BABIP all season long but Familia is showing he is more than just the fill-in closer for the Mets. I could see Familia out performing some of the ROS projections a tad, but expecting an ERA far below 3.00 isn’t necessarily reasonable. Still, he should continue to see save opps for the Metropolitans while striking out over a batter an inning without anyone breathing down his neck.

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