Sunday’s spring slate featured Mike Clevinger’s debut as a reliever for the White Sox and another outing featuring hard contact against Liam Hendriks of the Red Sox.
Beginning with Clevinger, he fired a clean bottom of the fourth and recorded two strikeouts. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%):
Seeing the velocity bump along with a three whiffs on his curve proves intriguing from a fantasy perspective.
As for Hendriks, he suffered his second blown save but was awarded his second spring win after giving up three hits, including a two-run home run by Garrett Cooper. By my count, he threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). After four games, he owns a 2.75 WHIP with three strikeouts over four innings. His manager remains steadfast in his support for the reliever, but better results must ensue if he’s going to close games in April.
Here are the remaining outings of interest by leverage relievers from Sunday’s slate.
American League
Cleveland Guardians
- It only took eight pitches, all strikes, for Emmanuel Clase to record a clean top of the fifth while recording two strikeouts. He produced two whiffs (25 SwStr%) and has posted a 1.50 WHIP with six strikeouts across 2.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Emmanuel Clase | Paul Sewald | Cade Smith
Detroit Tigers
- Taking over at the top of the fourth, Tyler Holton allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks while getting credit for his second hold. He threw 24 pitches (13 strikes – 54.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
- Will Vest notched his first hold with a scoreless fifth, giving up a hit and striking out one on 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%).
- John Brebbia logged 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one for his second hold.
Projected Hierarchy: *Beau Brieske | *Will Vest | *Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros
- Making his third outing this spring, Josh Hader retired the side at the top of the fourth for his first clean appearance. By my count, he threw 10 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff, inducing three fly outs. He has a 1.67 WHIP with two strikeouts in three innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Forrest Whitley
Los Angeles Angels
- Dealing with some traffic, Kenley Jansen escaped with a scoreless top of the fifth. He allowed a hit and a walk while throwing 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Ben Joyce notched his first spring hold with a coreless sixth, issuing a walk and striking out two. He threw 21 pitches (11 strikes – 52.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Ben Joyce | Brock Burke
Seattle Mariners
- Statcast recognized the “kick-change” by Andrés Muñoz during his scoreless outing against the Rockies. He threw 15 pitches (7 strikes – 46.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%) while walking and striking out one. He has a 1.33 WHIP with five strikeouts through three innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Gregory Santos | Collin Snider
Texas Rangers
- During his second spring outing, Robert Garcia issued two walks but finished a scoreless bottom of the sixth. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Marc Church allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the eighth, throwing 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: *Chris Martin | *Robert Garcia | Luke Jackson
*= closer-by-committee
National League
Cincinnati Reds
- Taking over at the bottom of the fifth, Alexis Díaz allowed a hit and a walk, then benefited from an inning-ending batter interference on Mike Trout during a stolen base attempt. Otherwise, it would have been runners on second and third with Trout batting. Díaz threw 16 pitches (6 strikes – 37.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Scott Barlow gave up three hits and two earned runs on a Yoán Moncada home run, and struck out one.
Projected Hierarchy: Alexis Díaz | Scott Barlow | Tony Santillan
Los Angeles Dodgers
- In order of appearance, Kirby Yates fired a clean top of the sixth and recorded one strikeout on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Blake Treinen allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the seventh, throwing 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Tanner Scott worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He has a 1.40 WHIP with six strikeouts through five innings.
Projected Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | *Blake Treinen
New York Mets
- In his second spring appearance, Edwin Díaz navigated around two walks and recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless top of the fifth. He threw 27 pitches (14 strikes – 51.9 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (18.5 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: Edwin Díaz | A.J. Minter | Ryne Stanek
Philadelphia Phillies
- Recording his second spring hold, José Alvarado fired a clean sixth while striking out two. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%).
- Jordan Romano tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one on 14 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff. He has a 1.00 WHIP with five strikeouts across four scoreless spring innings.
- Orion Kerkering gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with one whiff.
Projected Hierarchy: Jordan Romano | José Alvarado | Orion Kerkering
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Statistical Credits:
