Colorado’s closer competition has been centered around Seth Halvorsen versus Victor Vodnik in columns by MLB.com and the Denver Post. However, this ignores the team’s saves leader from last year, Tyler Kinley. Spring outings may not be the deciding factor, but all three appeared in Tuesday’s contest versus Cincinnati.
- Kinley worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth, giving up a hit and striking out one. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 0.40 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus one walk in five innings.
- Vodnik navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless seventh for his first hold throwing 22 pitches (50 Strike%) with three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.40 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk over five innings.
- Halvorsen struggled in the eighth, allowing three hits, five earned runs, two walks, and recording one strikeout resulting in his first loss, and first blown save. He threw 30 pitches (53.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (10 SwStr%). His WHIP sits at 2.12 after this outing with five strikeouts and four walks in 5.2 innings.
With just over two weeks until Opening Day, Bud Black has more time to assess his relievers and decide how to structure his bullpen. Kinley may be leading his teammates, but time will tell who gets tabbed as the Rockies’ closer.
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Here are Tuesday’s remaining leverage outings of interest.
American League
Baltimore Orioles
- Securing his second hold, Cionel Pérez retired the side at the bottom of the fifth on 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Yennier Cano notched his second hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless sixth. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). He has a 0.75 WHIP with two strikeouts through four innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Keegan Akin
Houston Astros
- An efficient outing for Josh Hader resulted in a clean fifth versus the Mets. He has a 1.25 WHIP with two strikeouts against three walks over four innings.
- Bryan Abreu retired the side in the sixth. He’s posted a 1.25 WHIP with three strikeouts versus two walks across his four innings this spring.
Projected Hierarchy: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Forrest Whitley
Kansas City Royals
- Suffering his first loss, Lucas Erceg allowed four hits, three earned runs, and a walk during the bottom of the fifth against Arizona. He threw 23 pitches (13 strikes – 56.5 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. After five spring appearances, he owns a 2.40 WHIP with five strikeouts versus four walks.
Projected Hierarchy: *Carlos Estévez | *Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees
- Entering at the top of the fourth, Devin Williams allowed a lead-off single, followed by a double, produced a strikeout, then gave up an RBI fielder’s choice groundout, putting an earned run on his ledger. He finished with two hits against, one earned run, and one strikeout while throwing 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). He’s only made two appearances and has a 1.50 WHIP with two strikeouts.
Projected Hierarchy: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Ian Hamilton
Texas Rangers
- Though longshots for the roster, the Rangers have kept two prospect relievers in camp. Emiliano Teodo fired a clean top of the eighth and recorded one strikeout on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He also hit triple digits on the radar. He has a 0.69 WHIP (nice) with six strikeouts and one walk in 4.1 innings.
- Marc Church allowed a walk and a two-run home run while striking out one in the ninth, throwing 23 pitches (16 strikes – 69.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (8.7 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: *Chris Martin | *Robert Garcia | Luke Jackson
The Athletics
- Although his command wavered at times, Mason Miller worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth against the Giants. He allowed a double and recorded two strikeouts on 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). He has a 0.75 WHIP with five strikeouts over four innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Mason Miller | José Leclerc | Michel Otañez
Toronto Blue Jays
- A less than stellar outing by Jeff Hoffman. He allowed two hits, including a go-ahead Jose Miranda two-run home run, and a walk over two-thirds of the sixth. Hoffman threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He owns a 1.09 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk through 3.2 innings this spring.
Projected Hierarchy: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
- With two runners on and one out, Justin Martinez took over at the top of the fourth and stranded both runners by inducing an inning-ending double play groundout, throwing only two pitches. He has a 1.50 WHIP with five strikeouts through four innings this spring.
- Joe Mantiply notched his third hold by striking out both batters in the eighth.
- Kevin Ginkel recorded his first save this spring with a scoreless ninth, allowing a hit. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with one whiff (11.1 SwStr%). He has a 0.75 WHIP with five strikeouts in his four innings this spring.
Projected Hierarchy: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | *Kevin Ginkel
*= current closer competition
Chicago Cubs
- Entering at the top of the sixth against the 9-1-2 Brewers hitters, Ryan Pressly retired the side and recorded a strikeout on 16 pitches (10 strikes – 62.5 Strike%) with one whiff. He lowered his WHIP to 0.82 over 3.2 innings and has four strikeouts.
- Nate Pearson tossed a scoreless seventh, issuing a walk and striking out two.
- Tyson Miller worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Porter Hodge gave up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out three in the ninth. He’s posted a 1.60 WHIP with eight strikeouts against five walks over five innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Nate Pearson
Los Angeles Dodgers
- In order of appearance, Blake Treinen took over with a runner on and one out in the seventh. He allowed the inherited runner to score, a hit, an earned run, and recorded one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. He threw 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
- Kirby Yates only retired one batter in the eighth, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one on 15 pitches (53.3 Striek%) with four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He has a 2.57 WHIP through 4.2 innings.
- Tanner Scott issued a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless ninth. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He owns a 1.33 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus three walks in six innings.
Projected Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins
- Another rough outing for Jesús Tinoco. He allowed a hit, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one in two-thirds of the fourth. He threw 29 pitches (15 strikes – 51.7 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. He has a 2.12 WHIP with five strikeouts versus five walks across 5.2 innings this spring. He’s competing with Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender for the closer role.
Projected Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Jesús Tinoco | *Anthony Bender
*= current closer competition
Milwaukee Brewers
- Summoned at the bottom of the fourth against the top of the Cubs lineup, Joel Payamps retired the side on 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Abner Uribe faced the 4-5-6 lineup pocket, and induced three groundouts while throwing 11 pitches (7 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.00 WHIP with three strikeouts in three outings.
Projected Hierarchy: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
Philadelphia Phillies
- In a game without Statcast or a televised feed, José Alvarado tossed a scoreless bottom of the fourth, issuing two walks and recording three strikeouts. He has a 1.00 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against three walks through five innings.
- Jordan Romano fired a clean fifth and recorded one strikeout. He’s posted a 0.80 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk over five innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Jordan Romano | José Alvarado | Orion Kerkering
San Francisco Giants
- Recording his third hold, Tyler Rogers tossed a clean sixth and recorded one strikeout.
- Camilo Doval secured his fourth hold with a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts on 10 pitches (70 Strike%) with four whiffs (40 SwStr%).
- Ryan Walker suffered his first blown save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the eighth. He threw 29 pitches (18 strikes – 62.1 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (6.9 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.50 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk over 4.2 innings.
- Joel Peguero struck out his only batter in the eighth.
- Erik Miller worked a scoreless ninth for his first save this spring.
Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Camilo Doval
St. Louis Cardinals
- Ryan Helsley took over at the top of the fifth. He allowed a lead-off infield single by Jesús Sánchez, who advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher. After a ground-out, an unearned run scored on a sacrifice fly. Helsley finished with a hit against, a run (zero earned), and one strikeout on 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He owns a 1.20 WHIP with four strikeouts through five innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Ryan Fernandez | JoJo Romero
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