Beginning with a game that counts during the Seoul Series, one team mounted a late-inning rally, benefiting from a fortuitous baseball going through a fielder’s glove. The other team managed the game like it was the playoffs, but ran out high-leverage relievers in the eighth while saving its “closer’ for the ninth. Plus, game recaps from Spring contests with the domestic Opening Day only one week away, which means relievers with lingering injury issues may miss their window for the start of the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Securing the first save of 2024, Evan Phillips fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one against the Padres 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
Joe Kelly notched his first hold, allowing a hit during a scoreless eighth. Daniel Hudson collected his first win, working a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out one. Ryan Brasier retired the side in order in the sixth, recording one strikeout.
Hierarchy remains: Evan Phillips | Joe Kelly | Daniel Hudson
San Diego Padres – Relying on his bullpen from the fourth inning on, Mike Shildt did not cover the highest-leveraged innings well. Enyel De Los Santos posted his first hold, working a clean combined inning, and recording one strikeout. Yuki Matsui retired both batters faced in the sixth while striking out one. He threw 11 pitches (6 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
Wandy Peralta recorded his first hold, giving up an earned run and two walks while striking out one in a combined inning of relief. Jhony Brito suffered his first loss, and blown save, allowing a hit, two runs (one earned), and a walk during one-third of the eighth. Adrian Morejon let both inherited runners score on two hits and an earned run on his ledger over two-thirds of the eighth. Jeremiah Estrada escaped with a scoreless top of the ninth, navigating around a hit and two walks while striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Yuki Matsui | Wandy Peralta
Miami Marlins – Taking over a bases-loaded situation, Tanner Scott stranded two of three runners, retiring both batters faced. He gave up a sacrifice fly by Luke Voit then induced an inning-ending ground out. Scott threw three pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. More importantly, he appeared on back-to-back days and has been scoreless in his last four outings. Jordan McPherson covered his team’s “closer” bounce back in this post for the Miami Herald.
Hierarchy remains: Tanner Scott | Andrew Nardi | Anthony Bender
Quick Hits (Game Recaps from March 20 Spring Training Contests)
Atlanta Braves – Working as the “opener”, Raisel Iglesias recorded all three outs via strikeout. However, he also allowed a triple, and two home runs, resulting in three earned runs. It’s tough ramping up intensity in a spring outing, as a veteran, he should be ready when the lights go on next week. Aaron Bummer allowed a hit and an unearned run in the second. Tyler Matzek tossed a scoreless third, walking one and striking out two. Joe Jiménez navigated around two hits for a scoreless fourth while striking out one. A.J. Minter gave up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of the fifth. Pierce Johnson turned in a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit.
Baltimore Orioles – Facing his former team, Craig Kimbrel fired a clean fifth, striking out the side against the 1-2-3 lineup pocket, including using a change-up for the first time since 2018, though it’s not confirmed by Statcast data. He’s been scoreless over his last four outings with a 6:2 K:BB over four innings. Yennier Cano struggled in the sixth, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Chicago Cubs – Running a bullpen contest, the team used eight relievers. Mark Leiter Jr. worked as the “opener”, firing a clean first and striking out two. Adbert Alzolay tossed a scoreless second, allowing a hit and striking out one. Through seven outings this spring, he owns a 0.57 WHIP with seven strikeouts against one walk. Hector Neris gave up three hits and three earned runs while recording all three outs via strikeout en route to his first spring loss. Julian Merryweather turned in a scoreless fourth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Kansas City Royals – Although both starters struggled in this tie game, the Royals relievers fared well. Will Smith took over in the sixth, retiring the side in order and recording two strikeouts. He’s posted a 1.14 WHIP with five strikeouts against three walks over seven innings. John Schreiber served up a solo home run and struck out one in the seventh. James McArthur fired a clean eighth, striking out two. Angel Zerpa worked a clean ninth, striking out two.
New York Mets – Facing adversity for the first time this spring, Edwin Díaz gave up an earned run while issuing two walks and recording one strikeout over two-thirds of the fifth. He threw 21 pitches (10 strikes – 47.6 Strike percentage) and induced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). This could be a result of a “dead arm”, but they all cannot be clean outings. He did get credit for his first spring hold. Here’s his pitch illustrator courtesy of Statcast from this outing:
New York Yankees – During a combined shutout, the bullpen performed well against the Pirates. Victor González tossed a scoreless inning, yielding a hit and striking out one. Clay Holmes retired both batters faced, recording one strikeout. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with no whiffs. He’s posted a 1.50 WHIP with six strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Ian Hamilton worked a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and striking out one. Caleb Ferguson fired a clean seventh, striking out two. Nick Burdi issued a walk and recorded all three outs via strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
St. Louis Cardinals – Collecting his first spring win, Ryan Helsley fired a clean fifth, striking out one. Through seven appearances, he owns a 1.29 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus six walks. The biggest question remains, will his velocity tick up once the lights go on this season? Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Texas Rangers – Firing a clean sixth inning, Josh Sborz recorded one strikeout. This marked his fourth outing this spring and he’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts over four innings. His teammates, including José Leclerc, worked in a minor league game, logging consecutive outings during their buildup for the season, shared on “X” by Jeff Wilson.
Closer Monkey’s filthy pitches of the day go to Yuki Matsui, flashing his nasty split-fingered fastball in South Korea, courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
Stay safe and be well.
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