With Opening Day fast approaching, 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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WBC
Team Venezuela
Locking down his third save of the tournament, and his team’s first WBC title, Daniel Palencia (CHC) fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, appearing on consecutive days. He threw 11 pitches (7 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
He lowered his combined WHIP to 0.923 across 8.2 innings with 13 strikeouts against three walks (25.4 K-BB%) in WBC and Spring Training contests.
During the three knockout games, including last night’s championship game, he recorded a 66.7 strike percentage (39 pitches, 26 strikes) with 12 whiffs (30.8 SwStr%), and six strikeouts versus zero walks (50 K-BB%) while retiring all 12 batters faced. Pure dominance on a big stage.
- Andrés Machado gets credit for his first win and a blown save after giving up a two-out walk, followed by a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth.
- Ángel Zerpa (MIL) notched his second hold, walking and striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh.
- José Buttó (SF) worked a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit.
- Eduard Bazardo (SEA) retired both batters faced, one via strikeout, in the fifth for his third hold.
Team USA
Appearing for the third time in five days, Garrett Whitlock (BOS) issued a lead-off walk, followed by a stolen base, and a go-ahead RBI double by Eugenio Suárez, resulting in his first loss.
- Tyler Rogers (TOR) replaced him in the ninth, recording two outs and issuing a walk.
- Griffin Jax (TB) fired a clean eighth, striking out one on eight pitches (75 Strike%) with two whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Will Vest (DET) worked a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out one.
- Brad Keller (PHI) logged 1.1 clean frames and recorded one strikeout.
It’s curious Mark De Rosa relied on his usual suspects for leverage events instead of trying well-rested relievers like Jeff Hoffman or Garrett Cleavinger, but everyone can return to their teams with Opening Day just over a week away.
Here are the results of interest from Tuesday’s spring slate.
Spring Vibes
American League
Cleveland Guardians
Collecting his first win this spring, Cade Smith fired a clean bottom of the seventh and recorded a strikeout against the Reds. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
He has retired 14 of 15 batters this spring, five via strikeout (33.3 K-BB%) while posting a minuscule 0.20 WHIP.
Detroit Tigers
Taking over at the top of the fifth, Kenley Jansen worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one. He threw 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Combining his WBC outings and spring, he has a 0.83 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk (21.7 K-BB%) across six innings.
Minnesota Twins
The good news is that Liam Hendriks worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth, giving up a hit and striking out two. However, his maximum velocity was 93.6 miles per hour in this appearance. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%) while facing Edmundo Sosa, Justin Crawford, Dylan Moore, and Trea Turner.
It feels like the Twins hope he can at least share save opportunities this season; time will tell.
Seattle Mariners
(SS vs. SD) Entering at the top of the sixth, Andrés Muñoz allowed a solo home run (Nick Castellanos) and left with two outs after hitting a batter, who eventually scored, putting two earned runs on his ledger. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
His illustrator:
And, his home run on an elevated slider:
Between spring contests and the WBC, he’s logged 5.2 innings across six games, resulting in a 1.587 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus three walks (14.8 K-BB%).
The Athletics
Called upon with two outs at the bottom of the fifth, Hogan Harris retired his only batter, Edgar Quero, on an inning-ending groundout, throwing six pitches (50 Strike%) while inducing one whiff. This marked his seventh outing this spring, during which he’s posted a 0.955 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against three walks (28.6 K-BB%) over 7.1 innings.
National League
Colorado Rockies
Finishing an eventual loss to Seattle, Zach Agnos allowed two hits, including a two-run home run, and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%).
He allowed a home run on his sinker at the bottom of the strike zone:
By my count, he’s made eight appearances, recording a 0.72 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against one walk (30 K-BB%) across 8.1 innings.
Focus on the underlying data, not today’s result.
News, Notes, and Observations
Los Angeles Angels
In Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat for MLB.com:
Entering game play today, updated statistics for the triumvirate competing for saves:
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Statistical Credits: