With Opening Day on the horizon, 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 finale and Spring Training games from Tuesday.
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Citing past injuries and workload concerns, Pat Murphy remains evasive about his defined roles regarding the leverage ladder, with Opening Day less than a week away. On Thursday, both relievers worked scoreless appearances. Taking over at the top of the fifth, Trevor Megill was scoreless and recorded two strikeouts, throwing 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%).
One batter reached on a wild pitch following a strikeout. In his six outings this spring, he owns a 0.882 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk (50 K-BB%) over 5.2 innings.
Abner Uribe allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless sixth on 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with one whiff.
Between the WBC and spring, he’s logged six innings with an 8:4 K:BB (15.4 K-BB%) and a 1.33 WHIP. For a side-by-side comparison:
What fantasy managers cannot predict is how Murphy will allocate save chances and what type of split Megill and Uribe receive. Past usage patterns and spring performance favor Megill. Could he be the primary save share until an injury sidelines him? Stay tuned.
Here are the remaining results of interest from Thursday’s spring slate.
Spring Vibes
American League
Baltimore Orioles
In order of appearance versus the Pirates in a split-squad game, Keegan Akin retired both batters at the top of the sixth while striking out one.
Ryan Helsley fired a clean seventh, striking out two on 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and producing four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
This marked his fifth outing this spring, and he’s recorded a 0.80 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk (23.5 K-BB%) over five scoreless frames.
Boston Red Sox
Entering at the top of the seventh, Aroldis Chapman issued Matt Wallner a lead-off walk, recording a strikeout, gave up a single, then retired the next two batters for a scoreless outing. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%), finishing with two strikeouts.
Through six spring games, he has an inflated 1.764 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus three walks (18.5 K-BB%).
Houston Astros
Summoned at the top of the sixth, Bryan Abreu wriggled out of a traffic-infused outing for a scoreless effort. He allowed a lead-off single, walked Francisco Lindor, recorded consecutive strikeouts, and walked Jorge Polanco before producing an inning-ending strikeout of Luis Robert Jr. Abreu threw 27 pitches (16 strikes – 59.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
After six spring outings, he has a 1.50 WHIP with four strikeouts and four walks.
Minnesota Twins
Just when it seemed like Liam Hendriks was turning the corner, his former teammates reminded fantasy players about his risk profile as a potential closer candidate. He logged 40 pitches (23 strikes – 57.5 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (10 SwStr%) while giving up two hits, an earned run, and two walks with one strikeout.
His WHIP sits at two following seven spring outings, and his 5:5 K:BB does not inspire confidence during leverage situations.
Texas Rangers
During an extended outing, Robert Garcia was efficient, retiring all five batters in the fifth and sixth innings while recording three strikeouts. He threw 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9 Strike%) and racked up five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%).
Through nine appearances between the WBC and spring, he’s posted a 1.08 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against two walks (24 K-BB%) over 8.1 innings.
I’ve been wary of him as the closer, but he’s distanced himself from the competition in this leverage ladder.
The Athletics
As a reliever, Jack Perkins worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a hit and striking out three. He threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (31.8 SwStr%).
His role remains undefined, but if he’s a reliever at the onset of the season, he will be an intriguing speculation play for saves.
- Elvis Alvarado navigated around two hits and a walk for a scoreless eighth on 18 pitches (10 strikes – 55.6 Strike%) with two whiffs. This encapsulates the “Elvis” experience as a reliever. High velocity, shaky command, and contact.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Battling his command, Brandyn Garcia suffered his first loss while getting credited with his second hold over two-thirds of the sixth. He gave up a hit, three unearned runs, and two walks, throwing nine strikes of his 22 pitches (40.9 Strike%).
- Ryan Thompson replaced him, but let two of his three inherited runners score on a Chase Meidroth single before inducing an inning-ending groundout.
- Kevin Ginkel recorded two outs while giving up a hit and striking out one in the seventh.
- Jonathan Loáisiga tossed a combined inning, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out one.
And the leverage ladder’s updated spring results:
Colorado Rockies
Rough outings by Jimmy Herget (three earned runs over two innings) and John Brebbia (five earned runs across two innings).
Seth Halvorsen only recorded one out at the top of the eighth, giving up five hits, four earned runs, and a walk. He threw 27 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and did not produce a whiff.
Zach Agnos allowed an earned run at the top of the ninth on a lead-off single, a stolen base, a groundout, and a sacrifice fly. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%) in his outing.
My updated comparison chart for the leverage options in this bullpen this spring:
Philadelphia Phillies
Turning in an efficient top of the sixth, Jhoan Duran notched his first spring hold, retiring the side on seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and inducing one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He’s retired 18 of 20 batters this spring, resulting in a minuscule 0.33 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus zero walks (35 K-BB%).
St. Louis Cardinals
Navigating around three hits for a scoreless top of the fifth, Riley O’Brien recorded two strikeouts while facing the Nationals. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%), benefiting from a runner being thrown out at home.
Through four games, he owns a 1.25 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk (26.7 K-BB%).
Entering the season without defined roles among the leverage relievers, here are their updated spring results:
Washington Nationals
Appearing at the bottom of the eighth, Cole Henry allowed three hits, including a two-run home run, and recorded two strikeouts. Drew Smith allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
Including this contest, the team’s updated leverage results this spring:
News, Notes, and Observations
Kansas City Royals
With less than a week until Opening Day, Anne Rogers finally addressed the velocity dip by Carlos Estévez in this post for MLB.com:
Apparently, he and Sean Manaea are relying on the adrenaline the season presents, though one would think WBC outings would provide the same juice as a regular season contest:
I speculate that Lucas Erceg will have an ADP in the early 300s across this weekend’s Main Events in Las Vegas and online.
San Diego Padres
An encouraging injury update for Jason Adam, who will make his spring debut later today, according to Kevin Acee’s Padres Notebook for The San Diego Union-Tribune:
He also provided insight on the WBC experience for Mason Miller:
Across eight combined innings of spring outings and WBC contests, Miller has recorded a robust 46.4 K-BB percentage:
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: