One day removed from reports suggesting Opening Day was in question, Félix Bautista appeared in a spring training game against the Tigers. He recorded a strikeout, gave up a solo home run, issued a walk, produced another strikeout, and walked one more batter before his removal. Per Roch Kubatko, Bautista threw 26 pitches, hitting 98 miles per hour on the radar with a few pitches at 97.
“The Mountain” said he will pitch again on Sunday. He has a 1.93 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus three walks (26.1 K-BB%) in 4.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Keegan Akin
Arizona Diamondbacks
Despite his team entering the season with a match-up-based approach, Justin Martinez agreed on a five-year contract, eerily similar to a previous one signed by Andrés Muñoz in Seattle:
This allows him time to earn the closer role without the pressure of pitching for a contract or not being used in save chances to save money in arbitration.
Projected Hierarchy remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | *Kevin Ginkel
*= closer-by-committee
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Here are the leverage events of interest from Friday’s spring slate.
American League
Chicago White Sox
- Mike Clevinger navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless sixth. He threw 17 pitches (8 strikes – 47.1 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.60 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus one walk (35.3 K-BB%) in five innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Mike Clevinger | Justin Anderson | Fraser Ellard
Detroit Tigers
(SS) vs. BAL
- Entering at the bottom of the seventh, Jason Foley allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts.
- Beau Brieske issued a walk and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
(SS) vs. NYY
- John Brebbia tossed a clean sixth and recorded one strikeout.
- Tyler Holton gave up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the seventh.
- Will Vest fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
Projected Hierarchy remains: *Beau Brieske | *Will Vest | *Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels
- Ben Joyce suffered his first blown save, letting an inherited runner score and an earned run on his ledger. He allowed a hit, hit a batter, and recorded three strikeouts on 22 pitches (15 strikes – 68.2 Strike%) with six whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.14 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus three walks (32.2 K-BB%) through seven innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Ben Joyce | Brock Burke
Tampa Bay Rays
- The good news is, the line looks worse than Pete Fairbanks did at the top of the ninth against minor league hitters from Atlanta. He gave up a lead-off double, a batter reached on an error, and a walk loaded the bases before he induced a strikeout. With one out, a fly ball was dropped in right field, scoring an unearned run, then an RBI single another before he was lifted. By my count, Fairbanks threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He allowed two hits, five unearned runs, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of an inning. He has a 2.25 WHIP with five strikeouts in four innings after five appearances.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays
- Summoned with one out at the top of the sixth, Jeff Hoffman retired both batters on seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.06 WHIP with eight strikeouts against (26.1 K-BB%) over 5.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
National League
Cincinnati Reds
(SS) vs. CHW
- Alexis Díaz notched his first hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless top of the sixth. He threw 20 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 3.30 WHIP with one strikeout and five walks (-18.2 K-BB%) over 3.1 innings.
- Taylor Rogers suffered his second loss, allowing four hits and four earned runs in the ninth without recording an out.
(SS) vs. SEA
- Tony Santillan garnered his first win, retiring the side and striking out one at the bottom of the sixth on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with two whiffs (20 SwStr%). He has a 1.25 WHIP with five strikeouts (5.9 K-BB%) in eight innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Scott Barlow | Emilio Pagán
Colorado Rockies
With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Seth Halvorsen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts. He collected his first spring win courtesy of a walk-off at the bottom of the inning. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and generated three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). He has a 1.70 WHIP with seven strikeouts against five walks (5,7 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley | Seth Halvorsen
Miami Marlins
- Calvin Faucher fired two clean frames in an extended outing and recorded two strikeouts against the Nationals. He’s posted a 1.50 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus four walks (10 K-BB%) in 8.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Jesús Tinoco | *Anthony Bender
*= ongoing closer competition
Philadelphia Phillies
(SS) vs. MIN
- Taking at the top of the sixth, Jordan Romano retired the side on five pitches (80 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s posted a 0.65 WHIP with eight strikeouts against one walk (23.4 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings.
Projected Hierarchy remains: Jordan Romano | José Alvarado | Orion Kerkering
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Taking over at the bottom of the fifth facing the 5-6-7 hitters from Boston, David Bednar retired the side and recorded one strikeout. By my count, he threw nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). This lowered his WHIP to 1.86, and he’s struck out nine versus three walks (17.7 K-BB%) in seven innings.
- Dennis Santana worked a clean seventh.
Projected Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman
San Francisco Giants
- Securing his first spring save, Camilo Doval tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out three. He’s posted a 0.75 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus two walks (31 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Tyler Rogers was tagged with his first blown save but also picked up his first win, allowing three hits and three earned runs at the top of the eighth.
Adjusted Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: