Yankees’ closer Dellin Betances worked around a double and a walk in the bottom half of the ninth to secure his third save on the year in a 4-2 win over the Red Sox. Despite the double and free pass, Betances struck out the side (Holt, Pedroia and Bogaerts) on 21 pitches (11 strikes, six called and three swinging) to seal the deal. Following tonight’s outing, the big right-hander is up to 55.1 innings on the hill this season with a 2.28 ERA (1.23 FIP) and a 16.10 K/9. The K/9 mark is the best in the business among qualified relief arms. Green, green, green.
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– It was Matt Bush, not Sam Dyson or Jeremy Jeffress that earned the save in Texas tonight. Somewhat interesting play — Dyson and Jeffress had only pitched Tuesday (not Monday) but tossed 24 and 19 pitches, respectively. Bush continues his renaissaince as a relief pitcher, lowering his ERA to 2.56 (xFIP to 3.73). He hasn’t been the most lights out stopper (“only” a 22% K% and an 11% SwStr% with a 97mph average fastball) but he’s minimized the free passes and should be a nice option to pick up some holds on a team that wins more than it loses. He’ll crack the grid, but I don’t sense any imminent shakeups here.

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Apologies again on the belated BR but onto the news…

• A.J. Ramos had been struggling of late, particularly with his control (5.28 BB/9) but he’s been placed on the DL with a right finger fracture. Fernando Rodney will slide into the ninth inning for now, so kudos to anyone who held onto him after he was traded and then was mediocre on Florida. Behind Rodney we have Kyle Barraclough and Mike Dunn. However, Brian Ellington threw in the eighth inning last night and has a shiny ERA, he could enter the grid as well.

• In other injury news, Cam Bedrosian was placed on the DL with finger issues of his own. In his place we moved Fernando Salas to the closer spot. Salas has never been that effective of a reliever and he certainly hasn’t been this year with a 4.66/4.87/4.67 ERA/FIP/xFIP line and he shouldn’t have too long of a leash if he struggles. J.C. Ramirez and Deolis Guerra should be behind Salas if he falters and this could even end up a committee of sorts until Bedrosian is back up. Ramirez has seen higher leverage but I actually like Guerra more. He’s mostly famous for being part of the package the Mets sent to the Twins in the Johan Santana deal and although he’s flamed out as being an impact starter, he’s done well on the Angels this year. He doesn’t miss too many bats but has a 1.5% BB% in 35.2 innings this year and if Salas struggles he could see a save opportunity.

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• Carlos Estevez blew his second save in a row last night after allowing three earned runs while only recording one out. Over his last two outings, Estevez has retired two batters while giving up seven runs in the process. His ERA now stands at 5.18, and while a 3.71/4.11 FIP/xFIP tell a slightly different story, Estevez was never considered the long term answer at closer in Colorado. Adam Ottavino on the other hand often was considered the future in the ninth, but his return from TJ and Estevez getting saves was in his way. After the game Walt Weiss said “I’m not going to be talking about roles after the game” but this author certainly will. I’m going to go ahead and make the change on the grid, putting Ottavino ahead of Estevez. While Weiss didn’t anoint a new closer, he didn’t really defend Estevez either. Ottavino was always the better pitcher and now that Estevez blew the last two saves in terrible fashion I’m going to assume Ottavino gets the next opportunity.

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Ah, the beauty of the Holds statistic. Up by 3, Jeremy Jeffress gave up two runs in the 8^th and then Sam Dyson blew his third save of the season giving up a run in the 9^th. Jeffress earns a hold (3) and Dyson is stuck with the blown save. I know I’m probably preaching to the choir, but this is one of those glaring statistical injustices it would seem. Either way, the Rangers would come back and win the game as Matt Bush pitched two scoreless innings for the W (5). I guess the real bullpen story of this game falls on the Houston side as Will Harris’ struggles continue after walking a batter and hitting the next. After a stolen base and a fielder’s choice leaving runner’s on second and third, Ken Giles came in and gave up a double to score two runs on Harris’ docket. That’s when things got interesting for Giles who would allow 3 more baserunners over 1.2 innings, while striking out six Rangers. Yes, I know that doesn’t seem to make mathematical sense, but Giles managed to strike out Nomar Mazara on a wild pitch after allowing a Mitch Moreland double. He would then hit Ryan Rua to load the bases. Then Giles settled down and struck out the side. Read the rest of this entry »

No major moves this weekend, so this will be a shorter Bullpen Report, along with a few minor adjustments to the grid.

Steve Cishek was placed on the DL on Thursday, which doesn’t shake up the closer’s role, but does impact who is next in line in Seattle. Both Drew Storen and Tom Wilhelmsen are currently next in line despite having difficult seasons, and probably shouldn’t be owned as insurance. Outside of giving up a run against Boston, Edwin Diaz has looked fantastic as he is closed all four opportunities since being made closer. He has been dominant all season with a ridiculous 17.38 K/9 and 2.48 BB/9, to go with his 1.86 ERA (1.75 FIP). The bridge to Diaz is shaky right now, but could be getting sturdier as Nick Vincent is on a rehab assignment. Vincent struggled with the long ball giving up 1.73 per 9, but has seen a nice boost in his K rate (26.6%) and BB rate (6.1%) from last year. Expect Vincent to move immediately into the chart once he returns from his rehab assignment. The second line will still be wide open and something I’m staying away from.
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Newly acquired Jeremy Jeffress took the bump for the Rangers in the seventh inning today to face the Orioles’ 6-7-8 hitters, Pedro Alvarez, Matt Wieters and Jonathan Schoop. The former Brewers’ closer surrendered a pair of hits in his first appearance for Texas, but escaped unscathed to earn the hold. Matt Bush locked down the eighth inning for his 13th hold of the season before giving way to Sam Dyson. Like Jeffress, Dyson allowed a single to Pedro Alvarez, but induced a couple of worm burners and a fly out to notch his 23rd save of the season in 25 chances. Despite just a 6.39 K/9, Sam Dyson owns an elite ground ball rate (61.3% GB%) that ranks among the top ten of (qualified) relievers and top five among current qualified closers. The right-hander now owns a 2.34 ERA (3.54 FIP) in 49.1 innings pitched. Like Jon Daniels mentioned, Dyson will keep his ninth inning role despite the acquisition of Milwaukee’s closer (27-of-28 in save chances, 2.17 ERA and a 3.16 FIP). If you need the roster space you’re sending Jeffress packing (if you haven’t done so already), but I’m holding my shares for a couple more weeks. Green.
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• A.J. Ramos had an ugly game. So ugly I’m not even going to make an alibi joke. The righty walked three, gave up a pair of hits, and lost the game after uncorking a wild pitch. The second blown save send his ERA soaring from 2.53 to 3.12 in one shot. The Marlins’ closer continues to own a sexy 30% K% but his DIPS rates are sitting a touch over 4.00, far from elite marks from a guy expected to take the next step. A huge concern is his 14% BB%, which is the worst for any current closer in baseball (Trevor Rosenthal was 16% before his demotion and DL stint). His F-Strike% is right where it was last year and his Zone% is actually up a few ticks, so maybe it’s nothing to worry about (Ramos was never a control artist, anyways), but the free passes seem destined to keep him from being uber-elite in the ninth and I wouldn’t necessarily say no in a keeper league if moving him to a contender could fetch me help in the longer term.

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• We mentioned Huston Street’s continued struggles yesterday and it looks like he’s found himself on the disabled list with “inflammation in his right knee.” Street has been the worst closer in baseball this year so it was either going to be an injury or demotion that removed him from the closing chair. In his place goes Cam Bedrosian who got his first career save last night striking out the side. On the year Bedrosian has a 0.90/1.88/2.72 ERA/FIP/xFIP pitching line, a groundball percentage of 50.5% and a 32.5% strikeout rate. Killing worms and missing bats is generally a great way to be successful as a pitcher and I went aggressive making the Angels situation green. Yes, Bedrosian is a first time closer but he’s far and away the best option and I feel his job is secure.

• Will Harris‘ recent struggles also caught up to him as Ken Giles has supplanted him as closer. I opened the door to this possibility last night but the Astros made the change before seeing another blown opportunity by Harris. Luke Gregerson has pitched great as well so I’m slotting him 2nd in line, behind Giles. The Astros paid a pretty penny for Giles last year and he will now earn his keep in the ninth as the Astros fight for the playoffs. Look past Giles’ 3.80 ERA and you will see he’s the same dominant pitcher he was on the Phillies – his strikeout rate is the 11th best among relievers, his K-BB% ranks 12th, and his 97 mph fastball is among the league leaders. With Bedrosian, Edwin Diaz and now Giles added to the ninth inning, along with the usual slate of dominating closers, we are in the midst of some of the most terrifying closers I’ve ever seen.

UPDATE: With Luke Gregerson on the DL that obviously changes things. Harris is second and Michael Feliz will be added to the grid.

• Speaking of Edwin Diaz, the new Seattle closer didn’t disappoint in his first action, pitching around a walk while striking out three batters for his first save of the year. Diaz is now up to 52 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. You would think after a few years of  Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances that we have seen it all but Diaz is taking it to another level. If anything Diaz has been unlucky in his batted ball profile and I don’t see how the Mariners will rationalize using Cishek again this year barring a collapse – I upgraded them to green.

• Quick hits: Yesterday was a solid day for new closers as Tyler Thornburg pitched a perfect ninth for his 3rd save on the year and Tony Watson secured his first save of the year for Pittsburgh. Zach Britton can’t pitch every day so Darren O’Day filled in getting four outs for his second save. After a brief DL stint he’s certainly back to his old bad self behind Britton. Rough debut for Will Smith in SF as he gave up two runs without finishing the inning. Sergio Romo wasn’t any better allowing three runs of his own. Hunter Strickland and Derek Law threw scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings respectively and could leapfrog Romo if he has another blip. Nobody can be perfect and Seung Oh blew a save – his job is still safe. Roberto Osuna had a day off and Jason Grilli pitched a perfect inning for second save, cementing his role as second in line in Toronto. It’s possible that Aaron Sanchez‘ move to the pen could change that but I think Grilli is safe.

Closer Grid:

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]

Yesterday was (obviously) deadline day and there was thankfully lots of action. I hope you enjoyed hitting refresh on your Twitter account as much as I did.

• Brewers GM David Stearns was very active, trading two of the three relievers that were rumored in trades in Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith. Jeremy Jeffress is heading to Texas, and while I don’t think he will supplant Sam Dyson right away I am going to make the Rangers situation yellow, showing some caution. There wasn’t anyone knocking on the door too loudly behind Dyson earlier but now there is Jeffress.

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