With Opening Day days 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 the Spring Training games from Saturday.
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After signing a free-agent deal with the White Sox, Chris Getz said Seranthony Domínguez will be his team’s preferred option at closer. He pitched well during leverage events last year, adding a split-fingered fastball into his arsenal during his time with the Orioles. However, traffic usually results in tenuous holds on the closer role. Over the last three years, Domínguez has posted a 1.302 WHIP, including a 1.277 mark last year while recording two saves.
On Saturday, he escaped with a scoreless outing, working around traffic. He issued Ke’Bryan Hayes a lead-off walk, followed by a single, consecutive strikeouts, a walk to load the bases, and an inning-ending strikeout. It was a full Seranthony leverage experience. He finished with a hit, two walks, and three strikeouts on 25 pitches (52 Strike%) with four whiffs (16 SwStr%).
His illustrator from this outing:
Combining his WBC work with spring, he’s posted a 1.091 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus four walks (10.4 K-BB%) over 7.1 innings. His K-BB percentage must improve, and more efficient outings will be required if he’s going to remain atop the bullpen hierarchy for his new team.
Milwaukee Brewers
Although there was nothing definitive in Pat Murphy’s most recent quotes about his late-inning leverage plans, Adam McAlvy’s what questions remain unanswered post for MLB.com contained these insights:
Followed by:
This changes our matrix slightly, since Jared Koenig was the most leveraged left-handed reliever last season. As for Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe, does this mean a 65-to-35 percent split? Time will tell, but my projections reflect this type of split closely:
Shifting gears back to spring training, the results of interest from Saturday’s spring games.
Spring Vibes
American League
Cleveland Guardians
After retiring the side in the sixth, Cade Smith returned for the seventh, but ran into some trouble. He allowed a lead-off double by Rafael Devers, followed by an RBI double by Will Brennan, then retired the next two batters before being removed. Smith finished his 1.2 innings with two hits and two earned runs while throwing 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) with two whiffs.
This represents his sixth appearance this spring, during which he’s posted a 0.90 WHIP with five strikeouts versus zero walks (22.7 K-BB%) over 6.2 innings.
Kansas City Royals
At the top of the eighth, Lucas Erceg had a batter reach on a throwing error and allowed two hits, resulting in an unearned run. He threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Here are his pitch splits to this point of spring:
- Nick Mears stranded a runner while retiring both batters in the seventh, striking out one.
- John Schreiber worked two-thirds scoreless, yielding a hit across the sixth and seventh innings.
Tampa Bay Rays
Taking over with a runner on first and one out at the top of the fifth, Griffin Jax only needed two pitches, both strikes, to produce an inning-ending double play groundout while facing Alan Roden. This represents his ninth appearance between spring games and WBC play. He’s posted a 0.72 WHIP with nine strikeouts against one walk (27.6 K-BB%) across 8.1 innings.
The Athletics
Called upon with the bases-loaded at the bottom of the third, Justin Sterner retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his first hold. He threw four pitches, all strikes, and induced one whiff. He lowered his spring WHIP to 1.08 and has a 9:3 K:BB over 6.2 innings.
Hogan Harris allowed a walk and a two-run home run by Jack Suwinski, resulting in his second blown save.
Luis Medina’s experimentation as a reliever has not gone well. He gave up a hit, two earned runs, and four walks while striking out three during his two innings, pushing his WHIP to 2.05.
Noting this will be a fluid, matchup-based bullpen, it’s tough to project a clear leader for saves until games begin. If the team releases Medina, it opens up a roster spot for my dark horse for saves, Jack Perkins. Stay tuned.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Continuing his revival this spring, Paul Sewald turned in a scoreless top of the seventh, despite hitting a batter, yielding a hit, and striking out one on 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
Through seven appearances, he owns a 0.857 WHIP with five strikeouts against zero walks (16.7 K-BB%).
Colorado Rockies
Recording his first hold this spring, Victor Vodnik worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth, walking and striking out one on 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). This lowered his spring WHIP to 2.849, and his 5:7 K:BB should be a warning sign.
Seth Halvorsen allowed an earned run, issuing a walk and striking out one in the fifth. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
Here are the team’s updated reliever results this spring, with WBC outings included:
Pittsburgh Pirates
Entering at the top of the fifth, Dennis Santana was credited with his second hold, despite allowing two hits, resulting in an earned run. Across his spring games and WBC outings, he’s worked in seven contests, recording four strikeouts against three walks with a 1.199 WHIP over 6.2 innings.
Here is his updated results chart from all of his spring appearances:
San Diego Padres
Proving everyone’s human, Mason Miller had a batter reach on catcher’s interference with one out, allowed a single, and an RBI double by Andrew Fischer, resulting in two runs (one earned). He departed with two outs after throwing 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) with one whiff.
He’s made nine appearances this spring between the Padres and Team USA, posting a 0.692 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against three walks (39.4 K-BB%) across 8.2 innings.
Washington Nationals
In order of appearance, PJ Poulin retired the side via strikeout, throwing 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and producing three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
Clayton Beeter worked a scoreless seventh, issuing a walk and recording two strikeouts on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). Through eight outings, he owns a 1.091 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against five walks (25 K-BB%) over 7.1 innings.
- Gus Varland allowed a solo home run and struck out one in the eighth.
- Andre Granillo collected his win courtesy of a walk-off after tossing a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
The team also granted Drew Smith his release, making him a free agent. This leaves the following relievers in contention for the Opening Day roster:
He could be a viable target for multiple teams, including the Twins, who are seeking a high-leverage right-handed reliever.
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Statistical Credits: