Bullpen Notes🗒️(6/10)
BOS: Another poor outing for Slaten. He allowed a 2 run homer and got pulled after allowing another hit. They were down at the time but he has had two bad appearances in a row.
TBR: The three top guys in the bullpen were not available due to pitching back to back and Seymour started. They tried to blow the game in the 8th with Sulser who has been terrible since coming back from the IL and Matz giving up four runs. Garrett Cleavinger got the 9th with a three run lead and allowed a homer and a walk but picked up the save. With Seymour out of the high leverage spots Cleavinger takes over as the late inning LHP. Good holds add.
WSN: Good lord what happened here tonight? They entered the 8th inning with a 9-2 lead and Paxton Schultz in who had pitched the 7th. He gave up a couple homers, a couple walks, and a double before getting pulled with the lead down to 9-4. Ribalta came in and got the three outs but allowed both of Schultz's runners to score. They tacked on a run and went into the bottom of the 9th with a 10-6 lead. Varland started the inning and allowed two doubles one run scoring and walk before being pulled for Parker who allowed a single and a grand slam game over 11-10 Giants. This was probably the worst outing of the year for a bullpen. Beeter and Dicky Love had pitched back to back so they were likely unavailable. I would think this moves Varland out of the 9th but time will tell. They do like having a committee and as you saw today with how quick Varland got pulled they really don't want to use a closer. Yes I know it was a non save for Varland but three batters and a hook with a 4 run lead is not how you treat a potential closer.
SFG: They were down all game but did activate Reiver Sanmartin. He probably doesn't have a major role but picked up a win tonight. Low leverage guy for now but in a weak bullpen you never know where you can get with a couple good outings.
CIN: Same old story here. They had a 4-2 lead going into the 8th inning after Zach Maxwell pitched the 7th getting a hold Caleb Ferguson got the chance in the 8th and allowed a couple doubles that scored a run. They pulled him for Santillan who allowed a single that tied the game. Santillan got two outs to end the inning but he blew the save even though Ferguson was charged with both runs. Something called Chris Petty pitched the 9th with the game tied and gave up a game ending homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. of all people. Sanitllan is the fireman and he'll let your fantasy team burn down just like a house. Honestly how has this team not made a trade for any bullpen help.
LAD: Vesia go an out to save a struggling Ohtani in the 7th. They went into the 8th with a 6-4 lead but Kyle Hurt couldn't throw strikes until it was too late. Two straight walks and a three run bomb. He allowed a couple more hits, and got pulled for Dreyer who allowed a two run homer. Hurt ended up giving up 4 and Dreyer 1 as the were now down 9-6. This is the regression from Hurt that we had to expect. It has been slightly worse than I had hoped but now the question is can he turn it around. He probably wont be seeing any holds for a couple outings and likely can be cut in almost all leagues.
PIT: Carmen Mlodzinski worked as the bulk guy and gave up 4 runs. He got the into the 8th before Sisk got the last out and ended up with the win. Soto had the 9th and it wasn't perfect but he got the save. He allowed a two run homer to Ohtani who he was always going to be facing as a LHP. That is two bad outings in a row so it is time to start worrying here. The rest of the bullpen is bad and he did convert so he is still going to close games.
MIN: Beautiful bullpen usage game tonight. Probably the only time this year I have said that. Rogers was the 1st out of the bullpen in the 4th. He ended up with a win. Morris had the 5th allowing a couple runs and getting a hold. Adams and Banda got through the 6th, 7th, and 8th picking up holds. Yoendrys Gomez picked up the save in the 9th though it was a struggle. Single, out, walk, out, single that scored a run, and the final out. I as I have been saying Rogers out of the later innings for now. Him and Banda have flip-flopped and I'm not really sure either should be rostered but Banda has the better chance for holds right now. Gomez has been the best pitcher they have so him getting the save was great but more importantly they let him fight through some trouble. They might not have wanted to use any of the guys who pitched yesterday but that was big. I hope Gomez becomes the closer but I dont think it is very likely. He is still the best guy to roster in this bullpen.
PHI: Keller got them out of the 7th allowing a sac fly and getting a groundout. They had a 4 run lead going into the 8th and 9th and Alvarado got through the 8th allowing a single and picking up a hold while Duran returned for the third day in a row to pick up the save in the 9th. He allowed a couple hits but got a double play and only threw 10 pitches. This is a great bullpen and Keller and Duran are the guys to roster for holds and saves.
ATL: James Karinchak was called up and made his first MLB appearance since 2023 on CLE. He pitched a clean inning. He did have a couple very good years back in the day. Dylan Lee also got an out which is nice since he was thought to be dealing with an injury.
CWS: Seranthony Domínguez pitched another 8th inning with the team up. He had no issue and got credited with a hold. Bryan Hudson had the 9th and allowed a one out walk but picked up the save in the 2-1 game. That is back to back nights in the 8th for Domínguez though I suppose if we are really searching he did face the only part of the lineup that had RHB tonight. Feels like he is either out of the 9th completely or the last man in a committee. Taylor had gone two innings last night so it was not surprising to see him out. Braves have a lot of LHB and Hudson faced one in his inning. The next two up were LHB when the game ended. I think Taylor is the add here and maybe Hudson sees some matchup saves. If they keep using Taylor multiple innings other guys will have chances.
TEX: Jakob Junis pitched the 8th and 9th picking up a win. He remains a very good reliever but just doesn't see enough holds to roster. Jacob Latz loaded the bases in the 10th with no outs and got out of it with a strikeout and a double play. He had a one run lead so this was impressive. He has really become one of the better closers in the game. Hopefully the Rangers can get both Latz and Junis more chances to pick up holds and saves.
KCR: Pretty rough game for the bullpen but the starter did get drilled in the face with a liner so that probably didn't help anyone pitching. Hope Lugo is okay. Strahm gave up his daily homer to blow the save and tie the game in the 7th. They took a 4-3 lead and Erceg struck a guy out but issued two walks and hit a guy in before being pulled in the 8th. He got a hold and Lynch allowed one of Erceg's runners to score on a sac fly. He was charged with a blown save. Lange took the loss in the 10th allowing the ghost runner and another run to score. Strahm is a bum and Erceg has turned into Jeff Hoffman. They try to build him up and he just pisses it away with bad outings. Lange took a tough luck loss with the ghost runner. I wouldn't panic on him yet as I believe he still sees the next chance.
CHC: Rough day for some of the bullpen. Maton and Thielbar both picked up holds in the 6th and 7th. Thielbar bailed Maton out and pitched the 7th. Webb who has been on fire allowed a two run homer in the 8th that put them down and he was charged with a blown save. Palencia allowed a run in the 9th and took the loss. He didn't have a good inning allowing 2 hits and a walk without recording an out. As great as Webb's number are he only has 4 holds so I wonder if some of that is just not pitching in close games. Palencia with his 3 saves is still the closer though at this point it is tough to recommend rostering anyone here. If you cut him he'll get hot though.
COL: Back to back nights for Antonio Senzatela pitching which is great to see however the result was a blown save. He allowed a solo homer that tied it but ended up getting the win. Mejia pitched in the 7th. Senzatela is a tough roster because his save chances and holds are so few. If he gets traded he wont close either. Back to back outings are great but it is still a risky add.
MIL: Megill returned and pitched a scoreless inning. ESPN box score has him at 99mph so that is what you want to see. Hopefully the soreness is gone and he is back in the 8th or 9th inning. That is still to be seen.
ATH: Medina was back in the lower leverage spot. Not surprising as he has struggled. Barlow got a win getting outs in the 7th and 8th and Harris picked up a hold in the 8th getting the final two outs while allowing two hits. After that we might have seen a star being born. Elvis Alvarado picked up the save in the 9th striking out two and pitching a clean inning. This was after last nights outing. He has the stuff to be the closer but has never had the control. If he has found it he could be a stud. Ill be honest I want him to close and have said that since Miller was traded but I am skeptical. I would go out and add him because this has big boom potential.
HOU: They used the 4 main guys in the bullpen in a losing effort. They were down until the 8th though. Hader pitched a clean 9th Abreu took the loss in the 10th allowing the ghost runner to score. Hader is the closer and King is the 8th inning guy. Roster those two for saves and holds. Abreu is still very risky.
LAA: Chase Silseth was charged with a blown save after allowing a homer in the 8th. Bachman struggled though the 9th with the game tied. They threw a guy out at the plate to save him. Ryan Zeferjahn pitched well in the 10th and picked up the win. I think Yates is still the closer but Bachman has some holds value and is likely next in line though Zef has a shot too if Yates is pulled.
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