With Opening Day fast approaching, it’s time to focus on spring results and potential changes in bullpen hierarchies with draft season in full swing. Today’s ledger features the WBC semifinal and Spring Training games from Monday.
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WBC
Team Venezuela
Locking down his second save of the tournament, Daniel Palencia (CHC) retired the side and recorded two strikeouts versus Team Italy. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (40 SwStr%).
Combining his spring and WBC results, he’s posted a 1.042 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against three walks (25.8 K-BB%) over 7.2 innings. His team faces Team USA in tonight’s WBC final.
Here are the results of interest from Monday’s spring slate.
Spring Vibes
American League
Chicago White Sox
In order of appearance, Jordan Hicks tossed a scoreless bottom of the sixth, walking and striking out one. Jordan Leasure navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one for a scoreless seventh. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15 SwStr%). Grant Taylor had another rough outing, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during the bottom of the eighth. He’s allowed seven hits over his last 3.2 innings, spiking his WHIP to 1.956 this spring.
Minnesota Twins
With leverage roles on the line, all five Twins’ relievers were scoreless against the Pirates. Anthony Banda retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the fifth. Cole Sands logged a clean sixth, striking out one. He’s reduced his WHIP to one through seven contests, but one was against college hitters. Justin Topa worked a clean seventh, striking out one. Andrew Chafin fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts. Kody Funderburk gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in the ninth.
Tampa Bay Rays
Snapping a two-game rough patch, Bryan Baker navigated around a one-out double for a scoreless sixth and recorded two strikeouts. He threw 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%).
After seven appearances, he’s recorded seven strikeouts against one walk (19.4 K-BB%) but has an inflated WHIP (2.167), giving up seven hits across his two previous games.
Texas Rangers
A strong outing by projected co-closer, Robert Garcia. He fired a clean top of the sixth and recorded two strikeouts against the White Sox. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
In eight combined outings between spring and WBC contests, he’s posted a 1.349 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus two walks (18.8 K-BB%) over 6.2 innings.
- Josh Sborz worked a lean seventh, striking out two.
The Athletics
Securing his second hold, Mark Leiter Jr. allowed two hits and recorded a strikeout at the top of the sixth. He threw 24 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s allowed two baserunners in two of his last three appearances, raising his WHIP to 1.33 through seven games this spring.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Another tough day for this leverage ladder. Kevin Ginkel only recorded one out at the top of the fifth, giving up two hits, including a solo home run, and two earned runs. He was lifted after only seven pitches. He’s allowed 13 hits while facing 24 batters this spring, and his WHIP sits at 2.998 through 4.2 innings. Philip Abner let his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings. Ryan Thompson gave up a hit and an earned run while striking out two in the seventh.
Atlanta Braves
Getting in work at the top of the seventh, Raisel Iglesias allowed Chandler Simpson’s one-out single, followed by a stolen base, and an RBI single. After reaching 21 pitches (15 strikes – 71.4 Strike%), Iglesias was removed. He finished with three hits against, though none were considered hard hits, and an earned run while striking out two.
His illustrator:
And, his results:
Through four outings, he’s posted a 1.362 WHIP with five strikeouts and no walks (31.3 K-BB%) across 3.2 innings.
Cincinnati Reds
In an eventual loss, Emilio Pagán issued a one-out walk, followed by a stolen base, and an unearned run landed on his ledger after a throwing error by his teammate. Pagán threw 24 pitches (15 strikes – 62.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) in this outing, and has a 6:2 K:BB (12.9 K-BB%) over his six innings.
- Tony Santillan worked a scoreless sixth, walking one and striking out two.
Miami Marlins
Entering at the top of the fourth, Pete Fairbanks issued a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless outing. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff (8.3 SwStr%).
By my count, he’s made six appearances, posting a 0.50 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus two walks (28.6 K-BB%).
- Anthony Bender gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless fifth.
- John King allowed a hit during a scoreless sixth.
Milwaukee Brewers
Competing for the closer role, Trevor Megill upped the ante by striking out the side against three Dodgers’ prospects and collecting his first win this spring. He threw 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
Through five outings, he owns a 1.071 WHIP with ten strikeouts versus one walk (50 K-BB%) across 4.2 innings.
- Jared Koenig notched his first hold, yielding a hit and striking out three in a scoreless sixth.
New York Mets
Making his sixth appearance, Devin Williams worked a scoreless top of the fifth, walking and striking out one on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 0.83 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus two walks (30.4 K-BB%) across six innings.
San Francisco Giants
An efficient outing for Ryan Walker. He retired the side and recorded one strikeout on 10 pitches (70 Strike%) with one whiff.
This marked his sixth appearance this spring, during which he has a 0.50 WHIP with seven strikeouts and no walks (31.8 K-BB%).
- Spencer Bivens suffered his first loss, allowing three hits, three earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the sixth.
- Caleb Kilian fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one.
Washington Nationals
Appearing in back-to-back games, Clayton Beeter retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the sixth against the Mets, throwing 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with one whiff.
Cionel Pérez fired a clean fifth and recorded two strikeouts.
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Statistical Credits: