Closer Monkey

Tag: Trevor Stephan

  • Andrew Chafin seizes lead role in Arizona’s committee

    April 11, 2023 New York Mets – It was a 5-run game, but the Mets flipped the script on their early season bullpen deployment, with David Robertson getting the 8th (against the top of the order) and Adam Ottavino handling the 9th. Though Robertson seems to be the top arm here, this usage bolsters the…

  • Committees shaping up in Arizona, Texas

    April 3, 2023 Washington Nationals – Washington’s first win was closed out by Kyle Finnegan, and while Davey Martinez said that Finnegan would sometimes be used as a fireman, Sunday’s usage gave good insight into the pecking order when the bullpen is deployed traditionally. Hunter Harvey got out of a tight spot in the 6th…

  • 2023 AL Central Preview

    March 13, 2023 Chicago White Sox — All-Star closer Liam Hendriks is expected to begin the season on the IL after announcing in January that he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  The White Sox have a number of options to close games while Hendriks is out, but it looks like they will not have a…

  • Paul Sewald gets an ugly hold; slew of relievers snag vulture saves

    September 30, 2022 Seattle Mariners — Seattle is on the verge of its first postseason berth since their magical 116-win season in 2001, and seven relievers helped get them closer to clinching Thursday in an 11-inning affair. Paul Sewald came on in the seventh with a three-run lead to face the 9-1-2 hitters (two of…

  • The Dodgers bullpen gets another two late-inning options

    September 29, 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers — Tommy Kahnle threw his hat into the Dodgers’ closer committee ring, grabbing a tenth-inning save and allowing LA to join the Yankees with 12 pitchers with saves entering the final week of the season. Kahnle’s last save was with New York in August 2018, but both he and…