Friday featured eight games with relievers recording four wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save, and four saves while suffering three losses. Our three takeaways feature the following bullpens: the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and the San Francisco Giants, followed by game recaps and what to watch for in today’s contests.
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Shutting the door on his first save as a Tiger, and moving within one of a tie for third all-time, Kenley Jansen fired a clean bottom of the ninth in San Diego, striking out the side. He threw 11 pitches (10 strikes – 90.9 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (45.5 SwStr%) facing the 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
A.J. Hinch assured the veteran closer he would provide him with early save opportunities to pursue the third spot in the all-time rankings, and his next one will tie him with Lee Smith (478), and 23 more will make Jansen the third reliever in history with 500 saves. However, once this is achieved, will Hinch adjust his usage patterns during the late innings?
- Kyle Finnegan worked a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two on 20 pitches (55 Strike%) with two whiffs for his first hold.
- Emmanuel De Jesus collected his first career win, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s four-run rally at the top of the eighth.
Three Takeaways
Hoffman puts himself right into the fantasy crosshairs: Taking over with a one-run lead, Jeff Hoffman allowed a game-tying solo home run on an elevated four-seam fastball while facing Shea Langeliers, resulting in a blown save.
Hoffman also recorded four strikeouts during the top of the ninth, throwing 22 pitches (18 strikes – 81.8 Strike%) with seven whiffs (31.8 SwStr%). Tyler Soderstrom reached on a wild pitch after striking out, as reflected in the image above.
Fortunately, Hoffman also collected his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. After allowing 10 of his 15 home runs on his four-seam fastball last year, he planned on adjusting his arsenal this season, and it was executed, except for one. If it were a cookie down the middle, the vitriol would be understood. It goes with the territory of being a closer. Everyone remembers his outing in the ninth inning of Game 7, but he was terrific otherwise last postseason:
This outing should not affect his status as the Blue Jays’ closer, but it will prompt some to add Louis Varland or stash Yimi García (currently on the injured list) in leagues with injury spots. It’s a discouraging start to his season; hopefully, it’s a blip, not a repeating trend.
Strange usage patterns by the Bay: First-time manager, Tony Vitello, will be learning on the fly, but how he used his bullpen on Friday was perplexing. He summoned Ryan Walker to face the Yankees’ 2-3-4 hitters. His outing began with a strikeout against Aaron Judge, followed by a walk, and after Giancarlo Stanton fought off an inside pitch for a single, the team’s preferred save option was removed with runners on the corners.
Ryan Borucki took over, walking the bases loaded before inducing a fielder’s choice groundout and an inning-ending groundout. Walker threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. Erik Miller tossed a clean seventh. José Buttó allowed Stanton’s solo home run and recorded two outs, while giving up two hits with one strikeout during his two-thirds of an inning, spanning the sixth and seventh innings. Vitello hinted in the preseason that he may mix and match during save situations, but it’s tough to build trust with your relievers when they are always looking over their shoulder. Stay tuned.
Romano was primed for a second save, but still pitched well: Those burned by Jordan Romano in past seasons find it difficult to trust him, and it’s warranted. However, he was warming up with his team leading by three, and finished a four-run win over Houston, retiring the Astros’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket in order on 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) with four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%) while striking out two, including a game-ending one against Yordan Alvarez.
Romano has retired six of seven batters faced with a 3:1 K:BB in back-to-back appearances. He’s been used as a closer in his first two appearances, but this post by Rhett Bollinger suggests save chances will be fluid:
As for Kirby Yates and Ben Joyce:
Yates can be activated as soon as April 6, when the team begins a three-game set versus Atlanta.
Vulture Save Options for March 28
- Will Vest (DET): Jansen and Finnegan pitched on Friday, and Hinch may not use them on consecutive days yet.
- Drew Pomeranz (LAA): Romano has appeared in back-to-back games, as has Silseth, and Zeferjahn logged two innings yesterday.
- Mark Leiter Jr. (ATH): He was one of the only leverage relievers not used on Friday in Toronto.
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): Fairbanks only threw 12 pitches, but the team may not use him in back-to-back outings this early.
Here are the remaining results of interest from Friday’s slate.
American League
New York Yankees
Completing a combined shutout, David Bednar recorded his first save of the season, entering against the Giants’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket. After retiring the first two hitters, he issued Matt Chapman a one-out walk, followed by him moving to third on defensive indifference, before inducing a game-ending groundout by Rafael Devers. Bednar threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) without inducing a whiff.
Camilo Doval fired a clean eighth, striking out the side for his first hold. He flirted with a sinker during his time with the Giants, but the movement he produced yesterday looked different and much more effective. He produced four whiffs while throwing seven (57.1 SwStr%) against his former teammates.
- Tim Hill worked a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts en route to his first hold.
- Fernando Cruz issued a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the sixth, securing his first hold.
Seattle Mariners
Finishing a four-run lead, Andrés Muñoz worked around Bo Naylor’s one-out single and recorded two strikeouts during a scoreless top of the ninth in a non-save outing. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
- Matt Brash gave up a hit while tossing a scoreless eighth.
- Eduard Bazardo turned in a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
The Athletics
After his team tied the game at the top of the ninth, Justin Sterner took over, recording two quick outs on grounders, then gave up three hits, including a walk-off RBI-single by Andrés Giménez, resulting in his first loss. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. Hogan Harris logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking one on 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) with one whiff. Scott Barlow allowed a hit during his 1.2 scoreless innings.
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Making his MLB debut, Peyton Pallette logged two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts on 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff in Seattle.
- Houston Astros: In a loss, Steven Okert stranded two inherited runners at the top of the seventh while retiring all five batters, three via strikeout on 20 pitches (75 Strike%) with three whiffs (15 SwStr%).
- Kansas City Royals: During an eventual loss, Alex Lange retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth in Atlanta, throwing 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers
Presented a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, and making a grand entrance, Edwin Díaz secured his first save with his new team, working around Alek Thomas’ one-out walk, followed by a stolen base, with a strikeout and a game-ending groundout. Díaz threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
- Edgardo Henriquez collected his first win, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Alex Vesia gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh.
- Tanner Scott stranded two runners, striking out his only batter (Thomas) in the sixth.
Miami Marlins
Handed a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, Pete Fairbanks allowed TJ Rumfield’s one-out single, then bore down, inducing a pop-out and a game-ending lineout for his first save. He threw 12 pitches (11 strikes – 91.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff (8.3 SwStr%) while recording a strikeout in his outing.
He introduced a cutter last September and leaned into the pitch during his first appearance with Miami.
- Anthony Bender stranded a runner despite giving up a hit and struck out one during one-third of the eighth for his first hold.
- Andrew Nardi allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth, notching his first hold this season.
San Diego Padres
In order of appearance, Adrian Morejon suffered a blown save, letting his only inherited runner score while giving up a hit and striking out one over two scoreless frames.
Jeremiah Estrada entered with a one-run lead in the eighth, but struggled to command his pitches. He issued three walks and allowed a hit, resulting in four earned runs, his first blown save, and first loss. He threw 27 pitches (14 strikes – 51.9 Strike%) and produced four whiffs while striking out two during his two-thirds of an inning. His command struggles this spring carried over into this outing.
Wandy Peralta took over with the bases loaded and two outs, allowing two hits, including Kevin McGonigle’s two-RBI single. If one wonders why Mason Miller was not called upon at this moment of the game:
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Kevin Ginkel suffered his first loss, giving up Alex Freeland’s lead-off double and Kyle Tucker’s one-out RBI single, plating the go-ahead run. Ryan Thompson tossed a clean seventh. Jonathan Loáisiga fired 1.1 clean frames, striking out one across the fifth and sixth innings.
- Atlanta Braves: Finishing a combined shutout, Tyler Kinley fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout versus the Royals. Robert Suarez tossed a scoreless eighth, navigating around two hits and striking out one on 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) with one whiff. Dylan Lee tossed a clean seventh, needing only nine pitches.
- Colorado Rockies: In an eventual one-run loss, Juan Mejia logged two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out one on 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) without a whiff.
News, Notes, and Observations
Houston Astros
Josh Hader has not faced live batters. Once this happens, a clearer timeline for a potential return should follow.
Toronto Blue Jays
Speaking of Yimi García:
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