With Opening Day here, our focus remains on spring results and potential changes in bullpen hierarchies. Today’s ledger features the limited Spring Training results from Tuesday, and bullpen notes from multiple team beat writers from MLB.com.
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A collective sigh of relief from a portion of the fantasy community was breathed when Raisel Iglesias closed out a one-run win over Tampa Bay in his team’s last tuneup for the regular season. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout, throwing 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
Finishing with 5.2 innings and a 1.058 WHIP, Iglesias racked up eight strikeouts and no walks for a 34.8 K-BB percentage.
Robert Suarez recorded his second hold and two outs, giving up a hit and striking out one in the eighth. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He also posted a 1.058 WHIP across 5.2 innings with ten strikeouts versus one walk (37.5 K-BB%).
Their spring results were almost identical, leaving Iglesias with no margin for error this year during save situations. However, he lines up as the closer on Opening Day, and possession is nine-tenths of the law in leverage ladders.
Minnesota Twins
With roles unsettled, spring performances are under greater scrutiny. Taking over at the top of the second, Taylor Rogers allowed two hits, four earned runs, and two walks while recording two outs. His rough outing began with Marcelo Mayer’s one-out double, consecutive walks to Cedanne Rafaela and Carlos Narváez, followed by an RBI groundout against Roman Anthony, but Trevor Story emptied the bases with a two-RBI double. Rogers threw 25 pitches (40 Strike%) and only induced one whiff.
His WHIP sits at 1.499, and his 57.7 strike percentage and 8.5 percent swinging-strike rate do not inspire confidence as a co-closer. If one must dip their toes in this bullpen for saves, Cole Sands remains my preferred option. Here are the updated results from Fangraphs for the Twins’ high-leverage options:
Texas Rangers
Clearing his last hurdle, Chris Martin navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two at the top of the seventh. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
Through six appearances, he’s posted a 1.33 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus two walks (19.2 K-BB%) over six innings. There’s nothing sexy about the veteran, but if he’s the co-closer at the onset of the season, fantasy managers will benefit if he’s effective. It must be noted that his WHIP has increased in each of the last three years, finishing at 1.20 last year.
- Luis Curvelo stranded two runners while walking and striking out one over two-thirds of the sixth.
- Jacob Latz notched his first hold despite issuing two walks and striking out one during one-third of the sixth.
- Jalen Beeks fired a clean fifth, striking out one. If Robert Garcia struggles during save situations, Beeks may earn a larger leverage role.
It feels like roles in this bullpen may change throughout the first half of the season.
With rosters being finalized, more notes of interest may surface throughout the day, but here intriguing ones from Tuesday.
High Leverage Notes of Interest
Baltimore Orioles
In Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat for MLB.com:
By my count, he posted a 1.00 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus three walks (22.7 K-BB%) and a 17.1 percent swinging strike rate. Here are his splits by pitch using Statcast’s spring data:
If Keegan Akin opens the season on the injured list, Grant Wolfram could be a sneaky play for those in leagues with SOLDS or holds as a separate category.
Chicago Cubs
For reference, the last time a Cubs reliever recorded at least 30 saves was Wade Davis in 2017. One has to go back to 1998 for the last time a Cub reliever had more than 40 saves (Rod Beck with 51). This segues into the Cubs Beat by Jordan Bastian of MLB.com:
No reliever has received a larger boost in draft capital this spring than Daniel Palencia. His results in spring outings and the WBC were impressive:
Chicago White Sox
Though he struggled over his last three spring outings, the team and Scott Merkin believe in Grant Taylor, from his White Sox Beat at MLB.com:
He can benefit fantasy managers with ancillary saves or multi-inning outings with strikeout upside.
Colorado Rockies
Steve Stockmar of MLB.com shared some quotes and insight on the Rockies’ bullpen in this post, including which reliever may get save chances:
Victor Vodnik closed out this contest, but has had a rough spring. He’s recorded a 51.9 strike percentage with six strikeouts versus seven walks and a 2.174 WHIP across his spring appearances with the Rockies and the WBC. Seth Halvorsen was optioned. Juan Mejia is a name worth watching if his leverage role grows this season.
Los Angeles Angels
After its game against the Dodgers last night, the news cycle churned when the team announced roster moves on Twitter:
Before fantasy players overreact about Kirby Yates, it’s worth noting his designation was backdated, and he could return by April 6 when the team plays Atlanta. This would mean he only misses three series: four games at Houston, three at the Cubs, and three at home against Seattle. This updated on his knee also posted last night:
In the interim, Jordan Romano and Drew Pomeranz project as co-closers based on lineup lanes in the late innings. Romano had a strong spring, but his velocity has dipped slightly in recent outings:
How many save chances are provided in the first ten games will determine if either was worth adding. Perhaps the best news from the injury notes, the progress being made by Ben Joyce:
He may be eased into save opportunities upon activation, but the pathway to them remains clear in this leverage ladder.
Milwaukee Brewers
Adam McAlvy’s Brewers Beat painted a different picture regarding the late-inning roles:
Even though he highlights Abner Uribe, it’s implied that Trevor Megill will get “most” of the save chances early on. Having Uribe on a roster makes sense, but patience will be required. If he gets dropped when a league mate gets frustrated, make room for an upside stash play.
The Athletics
Last, but not least, Martín Gallegos included the bullpen in his A’s Beat for MLB.com:
This could be a bullpen that frustrates fantasy managers throughout the season. A reliever may record a save or two one week, prompting him to be picked up, then Mark Kotsay will change his usage patterns based on matchups the following week. Scott Barlow did not have a stellar spring (13.3 K-BB% and a 1.833 WHIP across six innings). This note does not include Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, or Mark Leiter Jr.Elvis Alvarado could be an intriguing sleeper if his command improves. Long story short, avoid A’s relievers for now if possible.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
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