With Opening Day only one more sleep, our focus remains on spring results and potential changes in bullpen hierarchies. Today’s ledger features the Spring Training games from Monday.
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With the score tied at the top of the eighth, Aroldis Chapman allowed a one-out single by Orlando Arcia, followed by a David Bañuelos home run, resulting in his first loss this spring. In this outing, he recorded two strikeouts and threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike5) with four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
And, his illustrator with the home run highlighted:
He’s been working on his secondary offerings, especially the slider, but has allowed multiple hits in three of his last four outings. After logging 6.2 innings, he owns a 1.799 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus three whiffs (21.9 K-BB%). Here are his spring splits-by-pitch using Statcast’s search engine:
Compared with last season:
His 70.2 strike percentage helped fuel his success last season. This spring, it’s 63.2 percent. When the lights go on and games matter, this may be a distant memory, but if the contact woes linger and he’s not commanding his pitches, Garrett Whitlock will be a popular pick-up. Monitor this closely during the first month of the season. Whitlock fired a clean seventh, striking out one on 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and generating four whiffs in this contest.
High-Leverage Updates
Pittsburgh Pirates
As covered in our Hierarchical Change, the Pirates will not be running a traditional bullpen, meaning Dennis Santana will not be a closer. He remains in the mix for saves, but will not be reserved for the ninth inning. Because of this, my updated projections reflect this:
Texas Rangers
Carter Baumler fired a clean top of the fifth and recorded a strikeout for his fourth hold. He also made the roster as a Rule 5 selection. Tyler Alexander issued a walk during a scoreless sixth.
Robert Garcia served up a solo home run (Salvador Perez) and struck out one for his third hold. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
Combining his WBC and spring contests, he’s logged 9.1 innings with a 1.072 WHIP and 12 strikeouts versus two walks (24.4 K-BB%).
As for roles, it’s been shared previously, but Skip Schumaker plans on a co-closer concept, but other relievers can earn save chances as the season progresses:
Jacob Latz and Baumler are relievers who could move their way up the leverage ladder based on their results in April.
Switching back to game recaps, here are the results of interest from Monday’s spring slate.
Spring Vibes
American League
Cleveland Guardians
At the bottom of the fifth, Cade Smith issued a walk and recorded a strikeout while facing three batters. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%). He wraps up his spring with a 0.545 WHIP and six strikeouts versus one walk (20 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.
Houston Astros
Picking up his intensity with Opening Day fast approaching, Bryan Abreu secured a save versus his Triple-A squad, retiring the side and striking out one on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with one whiff.
He wraps up his spring with a 1.50 WHIP and a negative K:BB (6:7), but this outing proves encouraging.
- Bryan King tossed a clean eighth for a hold.
- Enyel De Los Santos allowed a hit and struck out three in a scoreless seventh.
Kansas City Royals
Still pitching with reduced velocity, Carlos Estévez worked around a hit batter and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless bottom of the sixth. He threw 22 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
In seven innings between spring games and the WBC, he’s posted a 51.9 strike percentage, a 1.714 WHIP, and a negative K-BB percentage (4:5 K:BB). He remains one of the most polarizing players entering the regular season.
Los Angeles Angels
Taking over at the bottom of the eighth, Jordan Romano allowed a lead-off single, then a fielding error put another runner on base ahead of Dalton Rushing’s two-RBI double, and another two-out RBI double by Alex Call, put three runs on his ledger (one earned). Romano finished with three hits and two strikeouts in this outing, throwing 24 pitches (75 Strike%) and inducing five whiffs (20.8 SwStr%).
Across seven spring outings, he owns a 0.714 WHIP with seven strikeouts and no walks (25.9 K-BB%). He’s in the mix for save chances.
Minnesota Twins
Preserving a three-run lead, Cole Sands was charged with a single against, but it was a pop-up that ended in a rundown. Sands also recorded a strikeout while securing a hold, throwing seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) with two whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). This usage pattern may signal he’s the right-handed complement to Taylor Rogers for save chances at the start of the season.
- Justin Topa allowed two hits, including a solo home run, and was charged with his second blown save, but collected his first win courtesy of a rally at the top of the eighth.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Rolling through its relievers during a shutout loss, Kevin Ginkel worked a scoreless fourth, allowing a hit and striking out one. Jonathan Loáisiga gave up a solo home run and recorded two strikeouts in the fifth.
Paul Sewald issued a walk during a scoreless sixth, throwing 14 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s posted a 0.875 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk (12.1 K-BB%) over eight innings this spring.
He’s earned a primary save share, but Torey Lovullo has not confirmed any roles for the season.
Chicago Cubs
Putting an end to his strong spring, Daniel Palencia fired a clean top of the sixth and recorded a strikeout against the Yankees. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (25 SwStr%).
Combining his WBC and spring appearances, he logged 9.2 innings, posting a 0.827 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus three walks (29.7 K-BB%).
- Phil Maton served up a solo home run and walked one in the seventh.
- Hunter Harvey tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Cincinnati Reds
Summoned at the bottom of the fifth, Emilio Pagán served up a solo home run (William Contreras). Pagán threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and did not induce a whiff. This represented his first game in a week, and he finished spring with a 1.571 WHIP, striking out six while giving up two walks (11.4 K-BB%).
Fantasy managers hope he was just going through the motions.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In an eventual tie, Edwin Díaz recorded his final appearance before Opening Day, working a scoreless top of the fifth, issuing Josh Lowe a lead-off walk and giving up a stolen base, then retiring the next three hitters, two via strikeout. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
Through seven combined spring and WBC games, he worked 6.2 innings, posting a 1.199 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (28.6 K-BB%) and a robust 22.3 percent swinging strike rate.
Milwaukee Brewers
Closing out an eight-run lead, Trevor Megill retired the side on nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. Across his seven spring outings, he posted a 0.75 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk (44 K-BB%) over 6.2 innings.
- Ángel Zerpa worked around a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
- Abner Uribe logged a clean seventh on 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff. Through his eight combined appearances between spring and the WBC, he recorded a 1.143 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus four walks (13.8 K-BB%).
The most important part of his usage pattern, if this pattern holds in the regular season. It appears Zerpa has leapfrogged Jared Koenig in the pecking order for left-handed relievers.
Philadelphia Phillies
Completing his preseason ramp-up, Jhoan Duran tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, walking and striking out one on 16 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff against the Rays. He’s been scoreless through seven spring outings, posting eight strikeouts versus one walk (29.2 K-BB%) with a 0.429 WHIP.
- Brad Keller allowed a hit, two earned runs, and two walks in the eighth.
- José Alvarado served up a solo home run (Ben Williamson) and issued a walk at the top of the seventh.
St. Louis Cardinals
Facing their Triple-A affiliate, three of the four high-leverage relievers appeared. Ryne Stanek was credited with a hold, striking out the side at the bottom of the sixth. Riley O’Brien suffered his first blown ave, giving up a two-run, two-out home run, among his four hits against. He also recorded two strikeouts and picked up the win. Matt Svanson tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two. Statcast was not available for this contest.
Washington Nationals
During a bullpen contest, PJ Poulin fired a clean top of the first, striking out one. Cole Henry allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless second.
Cionel Pérez fired a clean eighth, striking out two on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
Clayton Beeter gave up a hit and struck out one in the ninth. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). If fantasy players accept this usage pattern as a guide, and there are shared save chances, it lines up with Pérez and Beeter based on matchups entering the regular season.
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Statistical Credits: