With Opening Day less than two weeks away, it’s time to focus on spring results and potential changes in bullpen hierarchies with draft season in full swing. Today’s ledger features Spring Training games from Thursday and two free agent signings.
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Spring Vibes
American League
Cleveland Guardians
As the first reliever in, Cade Smith fired a clean top of the fifth and recorded two strikeouts on only seven pitches (all strikes), while producing one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He’s retired all nine batters faced this spring, four via strikeout (44.4 K-BB%), and owns a 16.7 percent swinging strike rate.
Detroit Tigers
Taking over at the top of the fourth, Brant Hurter stranded the bases loaded and retired all five batters faced in his outing, three via strikeout.
Kenley Jansen returned with a clean fifth, striking out two on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with one whiff.
And, his illustrator:
With his WBC outings included, he has logged four innings, posting a 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts versus one walk (20 K-BB%).
Kyle Finnegan worked a clean sixth, throwing 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
Kansas City Royals
Lucas Erceg retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the fifth versus San Diego. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff.
Minnesota Twins
A much-needed scoreless top of the fourth for Liam Hendriks. He did hit a batter and also recorded a strikeout, throwing 14 pitches (50 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
And, his illustrator:
Through four outings, he has a 1.50 WHIP with two strikeouts and two walks. Since the start of last year, his velocity has settled between 94 and 95 miles per hour on average in his outings:
Can he be effective in this velocity band? It feels like the Twins may let him find out.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Transitioning into a relief role has not been easy for Drey Jameson. He suffered his first loss and was credited with his third hold, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and three walks over 1.2 innings versus Colorado. He threw 30 pitches (16 strikes – 53.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs. His illustrator:
And, his results:
Through five appearances, he has a 5:5 K:BB and a 2.439 WHIP across 5.1 innings.
- Brandyn Garcia saw this outing and raised it. He gave up a hit, five earned runs, hit two batters, and walked two without recording an out in the sixth.
Colorado Rockies
In order of appearance, John Brebbia worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
He’s either pitching himself onto this roster or will be a popular target for teams seeking a veteran with closer experience. He has a 0.20 WHIP with eight strikeouts in his first five outings this spring.
Seth Halvorsen navigated around two walks and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless sixth. He has the velocity a leverage reliever requires:
Can he hone his command:
San Francisco Giants
Competing for roster spots on Opening Day, three relievers posted scoreless outings versus the White Sox. Matt Gage allowed a hit and struck out two at the top of the fifth.
Keaton Winn gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in the sixth, throwing 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He could be an upside play in leagues with SOLDS if his velocity gains are sticky. And if Ryan Walker struggles, he could be a dark horse for save chances as the season progresses. He has three pitches with a swinging strike rate over ten percent in his career:
- 17.6 SwStr% with his split-fingered fastball
- 11.4 SwStr% with his four-seam fastball
- 13.6 SwStr% with his slider
Caleb Kilian tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
Kilian is also becoming a reliever on the fly. His career 14.3 swinging strike percentage with the cutter may serve him well in leverage situations.
Washington Nationals
Called upon with a runner at second base and one out, Clayton Beeter benefited from a caught stealing, then recorded a strikeout, thwarting the threat. He only threw five pitches (80 Strike%) and generated two whiffs while getting credited with two-thirds of an inning.
In his 4.2 combined innings this spring, he has an 8:4 K:BB (16.7 K-BB%) and a 1.285 WHIP.
- PJ Poulin collected his first win, recording two outs at the bottom of the eighth and striking out one.
- Griff McGarry notched his first spring save, working a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one.
Transactions
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
This may signal the team will keep Jacob Latz in the rotation and give Robert Garcia more leeway for save opportunities.
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Statistical Credits: