July 21, 2017
Seattle Mariners — The Mariners have played good baseball as of late to get back to .500 (48-48) and made a trade Thursday to bolster the bullpen, acquiring David Phelps from the Marlins for four minor leaguers. A Seattle reporter suggests Phelps will typically work the sixth or seventh innings. Nick Vincent has been very good in the eighth for Seattle this year, so expect Phelps to begin his stint in Seattle by trying to get the ball to Vincent and Edwin Diaz.
Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Vincent | Phelps.
Miami Marlins — With David Phelps shipped to Seattle, expect Kyle Barraclough to step into the primary eighth-inning role. Jarlin Garcia and Junichi Tazawa may get looks in the seventh inning behind Barraclough and A.J. Ramos, who’s still a Marlin, for now.
Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Barraclough | Garcia.
Texas Rangers — Keone Kela has been activated from the disabled list. He probably won’t be thrown into the ninth inning right away, but many suspect it’ll only be a matter of time before he starts getting save chances.
Updated hierarchy: *Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals bullpen blew another game Thursday, with Brett Cecil giving up the lead in the eighth and Trevor Rosenthal losing the game in the ninth after he somehow forgot to cover first base. His teammate Matt Carpenter wasn’t happy. There’s no indication the mental lapse will lead to a job change, as he’s still at the top of a messy committee.
Hierarchy remains: *Rosenthal | Cecil | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tony Watson — Felipe Rivero has pitched in three of the last four. Juan Nicasio has been busier — he has gone in four of five. Watson has been busy lately, too, but he had Thursday off.
2. Ryan Tepera — Roberto Osuna has pitched in four of the last five.
Saturday:
1. Jerry Blevins — Addison Reed pitched Wednesday and Thursday. Friday would be three straight for him.
2. David Robertson — Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two of three and three of five.
3. Brad Brach — Zach Britton threw 23 pitches Thursday (2 ER in a non-save situation) and has pitched in two of three and three of the last five. Another outing Friday could lead to rest for him on Saturday.
