Logging his fourth spring outing, Félix Bautista fired a clean fifth while recording two strikeouts. Per Roch Kubatko on “X.” Bautista reached 98 miles per hour and induced one groundout in this outing. He has a 1.50 WHIP with seven strikeouts against one walk (33.3 K-BB%), and a 14.1 swinging strike percentage. As his command improves and the velocity returns, “The Mountain,” should be ready for Opening Day, though his workload will be managed over the first month or two.
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Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday’s spring and exhibition slate.
American League
Boston Red Sox
- Summoned with one out at the bottom of the fifth, Aroldis Chapman retired both batters via strikeout on 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) with five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%). He has a 1.31 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against four walks across 5.1 innings this spring.
Projected Hierarchy: *Liam Hendriks | *Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten
*= closer competition for roles
Houston Astros
- Although this game provided no Statcast data or a televised feed, Josh Hader retired his only batter via strikeout at the top of the fourth. This marked his fifth appearance, and he has a 1.15 WHIP with three strikeouts against three walks over 4.1 innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Tayler Scott
Kansas City Royals
- Making his spring debut, Carlos Estévez had an interesting inning. It began with a missed pop-up and a flyout. With one out, a hit and run resulted in runners at first and third, followed by a sacrifice fly. He navigated around a two-out double with an inning-ending groundout. He gave up two hits and an unearned run on 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) with one whiff.
Projected Hierarchy: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Angels
- Ben Joyce showed some command issues in this outing. It started with a lead-off triple, though the left fielder took a terrible route. He finished with a hit against, an earned run, a hit batter, and a walk while striking out two. By my count, he threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%) appearing for the second time in three days.
Projected Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Ben Joyce | Brock Burke
Tampa Bay Rays
- Rough outing alert for Edwin Uceta. He allowed three hits, a hit batter, four earned runs, and a walk over two-thirds of the fifth against the Twins. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. This spiked his WHIP to 1.50 through six innings while posting six strikeouts against three walks.
- Pete Fairbanks navigated around two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the eighth, throwing 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has a 2.25 WHIP with four strikeouts against four walks across 2.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
The Athletics
- Statcast data or a televised feed was unavailable, but Mason Miller fired a clean top of the fifth while striking out one for his third hold. He has a 0.60 WHIP with six strikeouts over five innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Mason Miller | José Leclerc | Michel Otañez
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Mixing up his usage patterns again, Torey Lovullo summoned Kevin Ginkel at the bottom of the fourth. He retired his only batter, resulting in his third hold.
- A.J. Puk suffered his first blown save allowing a game-tying solo home run and recording three strikeouts in the sixth. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%).
- Justin Martinez collected his first win. He fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts on 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) while generating five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | *Kevin Ginkel
*= closer competition for roles
Chicago Cubs
- During an exhibition game against Hanshin, Ryan Pressly retired the side and recorded one strikeout at the bottom of the second. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Porter Hodge gave up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two over two-thirds of the fifth. He threw 25 pitches (56 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (12 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Ryan Brasier
Colorado Rockies
- In order of appearance, Tyler Kinley issued a walk and struck out two on 19 pitches (10 strikes – 52.6 Strike%) with four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.50 WHIP with nine strikeouts against two walks over six innings.
- Victor Vodnik worked a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out two. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%). After six games, he has a 1.33 WHIP with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Projected Hierarchy: *Seth Halvorsen | *Victor Vodnik | *Tyler Kinley
*= closer competition for roles
Miami Marlins
- Navigating around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts, Calvin Faucher worked a scoreless top of the ninth against Boston. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). He owns a 1.33 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk through six innings.
- Anthony Bender tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one on 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He has a 0.83 WHIP with seven strikeouts across six innings.
Projected Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Jesús Tinoco | *Anthony Bender
*= closer competition for roles
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: