This is art:

Chariots of Vogelbach pic.twitter.com/bt45pS3yKh

— Spencer Wisch (@SpencerWisch) August 7, 2022

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The season has begun and we are back with Throwing Heat! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this weekly article focuses on pitchers who are pitching well. When we are further into the season it will be based on a pitcher’s previous three starts but for now, it will just be their most recent starts.

This article’s beauty is that it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article. I will also tell you if the hot streak is legit or if it appears to be a façade. I hope you enjoy it!

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I wish I could do anything as well as Trea Turner slides:

The prettiest slide in baseball is back. 😍 pic.twitter.com/fi8lI89xOg

— MLB (@MLB) August 7, 2022

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The 2022 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

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7:31	Jeff Zimmerman:

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The 2022 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Angels

• David Fletcher has leadoff in the last three games he’s started since coming off the IL. The problem is that he’s started only in four of seven games.

• Jose Rojas (.275/.350/.571 with 18 HR and 5 SB in AAA) was just promoted and started in the cleanup spot.

• Mickey Moniak has started two straight in center field.

Astros

• If the lineup gets healthy, at least two regulars will sit since Aledmys Díaz (.723 OPS) got the start over Trey Mancini (.752 OPS). Going over the pair’s career stats, Mancini has a slight edge, but Diaz is a way better defender. Keep a close eye on Mancini’s playing time to see if he remains rosterable.

• Mauricio Dubón (.594 OPS) and Jake Meyers (.582 OPS) are splitting time in center field.

Athletics

• Everyone besides Ramón Laureano and Sean Murphy are in some sort of timeshare. I think they are the only two rosterable players on the team.

Blue Jays

• The playing time situation will be interesting to see how it works out with the addition of Whit Merrifield (.645 OPS). My best guess is that Santiago Espinal (.689 OPS) and Merrifield cut into each other’s playing time when everyone is healthy. Raimel Tapia‘s (.700 OPS) and Cavan Biggio’s (.701 OPS) playing times might take a hit since Merrifield can play all over the field.

Guardians

• The outfield has gotten to be a mess. Steven Kwan is cemented into the left field job and leadoff spot. Nolan Jones is only starting against righties. The team just promoted Will Benson (.278/.426/.522 with 17 HR and 16 SB) and he started in center field. Myles Straw and Oscar Gonzalez are still in the mix.

• Owen Miller (vs LHP) and Josh Naylor (vs RHP) are in a first base platoon.

Mariners

• The lineup has been set for the last four games but it’s tough to know for sure what changes will stick. During those four games, the team has only faced righties. Additionally, Julio Rodriguez (IL) and Ty France (DTD) have been out of the lineup.

• Jarred Kelenic has started three straight in center field.

• Adam Frazier is now leading off.

Orioles

• Not a ton has changed with Trey Mancini being traded away. Adley Rutschman is now the DH every time he’s not catching. When he does catch, Terrin Vavra (.324/.435/.451 with 2 HR and 5 SB in AAA) is the DH.

Rangers

• When starting, Jonah Heim bats third.

• Ezequiel Duran has started nine straight games.

• Bubba Thompson (.303/.355/.474 with 13 HR and 49 SB in AAA) debuted on Thursday and hit ninth.

Rays

• Jose Siri has started three straight in center field since being acquired from the Astros.

• Isaac Paredes (.534 OPS over the last two weeks) has started in eight of the last 10 games.

Red Sox

• Christian Arroyo (.710 OPS) has started six straight games.

• Tommy Pham has started three straight and is batting second.

• Alex Verdugo (vs RHP) and Jaylin Davis (vs LHP) might be in a left-field platoon.

• Kevin Plawecki is getting most of the catcher starts.

Royals

• Michael A. Taylor has started in 11 of 12 games while playing center field.

• Michael Massey (.325/.392/.595 with 7 HR and 4 SB in AAA) has started the last two games at second base.

• Kyle Isbel has only started in five of the last 10 games.

Tigers

• Harold Castro (.285/.315/.407 and 4 HR) has started in 13 of the last 14 games at first base.

• Eric Haase (.236 AVG, 8 HR) has started in six of the last 10 games, five at catcher.

• In five of the last seven games, Victor Reyes (.658 OPS, 0 SB) has hit second.

Twins

• Several injuries (Kepler, Sano, Kirilloff) have the lineup in flux.

• Mark Contreras (.221/.311/.399 with 10 HR and 14 SB in AAA) has started four straight.

• Nick Gordon has also started four straight (.272 AVG, 4 HR, 4 SB).

White Sox

• While a few injuries have forced some changes, as a general rule, the lineup has been steady.

Yankees

• Andrew Benintendi has started seven straight since joining the Yankees.

• Matt Carpenter has started in seven of the last 10 games.

National League

Braves

• Orlando Arcia is back to being the everyday second baseman.

Brewers

• Steady.

Cardinals

• Tommy Edman (.637 OPS, 0 HR, 3 SB over the last month) has only started in four of the last six games and has moved down to the ninth spot. He’s splitting time with Nolan Gorman at second base with Paul DeJong starting five straight at shortstop.

• Dylan Carlson has leadoff for six straight games.

Cubs

• Christopher Morel has only started in two of the last five games (both against lefties). He’s been sitting against righties even though he hits them better than his replacements.

Diamondbacks

• Jake McCarthy has started nine straight games.

• Emmanuel Rivera (.670 OPS, 6 HR in 211 PA) started the last game at third base and hit out of the six hole.

Dodgers

• James Outman (.225/.340/.475 with 5 HR and 4 SB in 97 AAA PA) has started in four of the five games since being called up from AAA.

• Miguel Vargas (.291/.382/.497 with 15 HR and 12 SB in AAA) has started just one game so far as the DH.

Giants

• Joey Bart has taken over the primary catching duties.

• Wilmer Flores and Dixon Machado 마차도 (SS) look to be the only two hitters who have full-time jobs.

Marlins

• Bryan De La Cruz and JJ Bleday has started in nine of the last 10 games.

Mets

• Eduardo Escobar has only started in four of the last 10 games. Luis Guillorme has been starting instead.

• Tyler Naquin and Mark Canha are splitting time in left field.

Nationals

• Luis García has hit second over the last three games.

• Yadiel Hernandez has hit 3rd or 4th over the last three games. He’s also made seven straight starts.

• Josh Palacios (.299/.378/.437, 7 HR, 18 SB) has started three straight.

Padres

• Intriguing. There have only been two lineups since the Juan Soto and Josh Bell trades. Wil Myers sat against the righty and Jake Cronenworth against the lefty. And Nomar Mazara was nowhere to be found.

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh started his first game with the team in center field.

• Alec Bohm is now hitting third.

Pirates

• Ben Gamel has started in 17 straight games.

• Bligh Madris (.528 OPS) has started five straight games.

• Cal Mitchell (.593 OPS, 4 HR) has started in nine of the last 10 games.

Reds

• The team is getting revamped outfield. Donovan Solano has started four straight games, Albert Almora Jr. three, and Aristides Aquino two.

Rockies

• José Iglesias is sitting against lefties.

• The 23-year-old Elehuris Montero has started three straight after hitting .310/.392/.541 with 15 HR and 4 SB in AAA.

A few thoughts on the pitchers from Thursday’s games:

FOR STARTERS

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The Trade Deadline Episode of the Beat the Shift Podcast – a baseball podcast for fantasy baseball players.

Guest: Steve Gardner

MLB Trade Deadline

• Closers / Relievers
  • Braves – Raisel Iglesias / Kenley Jansen
  • Brewers – Devin Williams / Taylor Rogers
  • Phillies – David Robertson / Seranthony Dominguez
  • Orioles – Felix Bautista / Cionel Perez / Dillon Tate
  • Twins – Jorge Lopez
  • Angels – Jose Quijada / Ryan Tepera
• Starting Pitchers
  • Mariners – Luis Castillo
  • Athletics – JP Sears
    • Are traded pitcher prospects good short term fantasy investments in redraft leagues?
  • Yankees – Frankie Montas
    • Where should Montas be drafted amongst starting pitchers in 2023 drafts?
  • Cardinals – Jose Quintana & Jordan Montgomery
    • Dylan Carlson – Are we missing something on him?
  • Twins – Tyler Mahle

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With the trade deadline behind us and only the dog days of August/September standing in the way of fantasy championships, let’s start taking a more targeted approach to our pitching matchups, with each one we choose, whether stud or streamer, carrying even more weight as the season winds down.

We’ll do this by first looking at how each team has fared by the handedness of the pitcher faced, starting with those wily left-handers and ranking teams in wOBA, xwOBA, wOBA/xwOBA (on contact), SwStr%, Whiff%, and BB%. Baseball can always baseball at any given time but looking at these ranks gives us a good starting point for how teams have generally succeeded (or failed) against certain hands, both in overall damage and whiffs. Read the rest of this entry »