Spring Vibes, March 8: Injury Updates, Mariners Reliever “Bucket”, and Game Recaps

It was a relatively quiet day on the reliever front, with most beat writers focusing on their respective teams’ Spring Breakout Rosters. Still, news about a timetable for a veteran closer surfaced, another limited by injury completed a side session, and game recaps will receive a larger focus in today’s post.

Boston Red Sox – Citing MLB.com’s injuries and roster moves page, Kenley Jansen had a pain-free live batting practice session and is targeting March 15 as his spring debut so he’s ready for Opening Day. The veteran closer stated he feels he can appear in five games barring a setback. Monitor this closely.

Chicago White Sox – Although no reports surfaced following John Brebbia successfully completing his bullpen session on Thursday, this video surfaced, showing no signs of hesitation because of his calf issue.

During a loss on Thursday, Jordan Leasure turned in his fourth straight scoreless appearance this spring. He secured his third hold, firing a clean fourth and striking out one. After four outings, he owns a 0.75 WHIP with six strikeouts against two walks. Bryan Shaw went nuclear, allowing five hits, six earned runs, and hit a batter during his two-thirds of the fifth. He was tagged with his second loss and first blown save. 

Seattle Mariners – Intriguing tidbits of information surfaced in the Ryan Divish column about relievers emerging from “the bucket” for The Seattle Times. First, he provides notes about the team not rushing the returns of Matt Brash or Gregory Santos. Before Brash’s setback, there were two spots open on the roster for the season in the leverage ladder, but if Santos cannot be ready for Opening Day either, there’s three. It’s apparent Andrés Muñoz will be the “closer” early on, but the leverage relievers getting him opportunities may be pieced together from a group which includes Jackson Kowar, Ty Buttrey, and Carlos Vargas. (UPDATE 11:00 A.M. EST): Perhaps a reaction to this current bullpen structure, Mark Feinsand reports the Mariners have agreed on a deal with Ryne Stanek. If Brash and Santos are not ready for Opening Day, he will jump into the hierarchy in a set-up capacity. 

Quick Hits (Game Recaps from March 7)

  • Detroit Tigers – In a split-squad outing against Toronto, Alex Lange fired a clean sixth, striking out two on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s made three appearances this spring, posting a 7:1 K:BB with a 2.00 WHIP. Command remains a key for his success, but the team may have him on a short leash as their preferred save option this season. This was a strong outing, but can he record them consistently?
  • Houston Astros – Making his second spring appearance, Ryan Pressly allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out two. He threw 25 pitches (72 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (20 SwStr%). Josh Hader notched his second hold, working a scoreless fifth, walking one on 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s logged two spring outings and owns a 1.00 WHIP with one walk.
  • New York Yankees – Ian Hamilton tossed two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out five. He threw 29 pitches (18 strikes – 62.1 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (24.1 SwStr%). Through three outings, he owns a 0.40 WHIP with a 7:2 K:BB over five innings. Clay Holmes will be the closer, but for those in leagues that value vulture wins and ancillary saves, Hamilton will fill the vacated multiple-inning relief role of Michael King.
  • Texas Rangers – Entering in the fifth, Kirby Yates navigated around a hit and a walk, while striking out one for his first spring hold. In direct competition for his leverage role, he owns a 1.33 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk over three innings.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and be well.

2023 Donation Drive

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Tyler Kinley takes over as Rockies closer

September 6, 2023

Colorado Rockies – We thought Justin Lawrence might get a second straight night off after a heavy workload this past weekend. We were right, though it seems like Lawrence is going to see some extended time off, at least from the ninth inning. The man to replace him? None other than Tyler Kinley, who tossed a 1-2-3 inning for his second save in his last three appearances. Jake Bird pitched a perfect eighth yesterday and Matt Koch retired all three batters he faced in the seventh.

Updated hierarchy: Kinley | Bird | Koch.

St. Louis Cardinals – Oliver Marmol clarified how he planned to utilize the back end of his bullpen now that JoJo Romero is on the IL, stating that Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos will split time based on availability. That centers mostly around Helsley, who will not be pitching on back-to-back days at the moment as he continues his return from the IL. In addition to Helsley and Gallegos, lefty John King may get save opportunities if the matchups are right, so we’ll add him to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: *Helsley | Gallegos | King.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles – With Yennier Cano getting the night off, DL Hall got the ball with a one-run lead in the ninth after the Orioles rallied to take the lead in the top half of the frame. That advantage was short lived, however, as Hall promptly blew the save. In the 10th inning, the Orioles retook the lead and Shintaro Fujinami picked up his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Cano | Fujinami | Coulombe.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin (BOS) – Kenley Jansen has gone in three straight. Martin has pitched in the last two games, but the Sox bullpen is gassed so Alex Cora might have no choice.
2. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) – Clay Holmes has gone in three of four.
3. Robert Stephenson (TB) – The same is true of Pete Fairbanks and Colin Poche.
4. Aaron Loup (LAA) – Carlos Estevez has pitched in two straight while Jose Soriano has gone in two of three.
5. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – Ryan Helsley pitched on Tuesday and is not ready for back-to-back days of work.
6. Jake Bird (COL) – Tyler Kinley has gone in three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Andrew Nardi (MIA) – If Tanner Scott goes today, it’s back-to-back and three of four.
2. Matt Brash/Justin Topa (SEA) – If any hierarchy member, including Andres Muñoz, pitches today it’ll be two straight.

A tour around the AL West

August 30, 2023

Texas Rangers – With both Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith available, the Rangers went to Smith in the eighth inning to protect a 1-0 lead against the top of the Mets order. Smith needed just seven pitches to retire the side, leaving the final three outs for Chapman. The Rangers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it a 2-0 game, which turned out to be huge as Chapman allowed a two-out homer that cut the lead to 2-1. Chapman rebounded by inducing a groundout to earn the save. There’s still a possibility that Smith gets another save chance or two, but Chapman appears to have the inside track based on what we’ve seen so far this week.

Hierarchy remains: *Chapman | Smith | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels placed a bunch of guys on waivers yesterday, including relievers Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore. We’ll wait to see where Lopez and Moore land, but it’s safe to say there should be a few contenders interested in their services.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Lopez | Moore.

Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly was unavailable in the Astros’ 6-2 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday because he was sick, but Dusty Baker hopes to have Pressly available today.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Abreu | Neris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) – Clay Holmes has pitched in two straight.
2. Austin Cox (KC) – So has Carlos Hernandez.
3. Hector Neris (HOU) – If for some reason Ryan Pressly is still sick, Neris is the best bet to fill in on Wednesday as Bryan Abreu threw 25 pitches on Tuesday.
4. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – JoJo Romero completed two innings of work yesterday.
5. Steven Wilson/Scott Barlow (SD) – Both Josh Hader and Robert Suarez have pitched in two straight.

Tomorrow:
1. AJ Minter/Kirby Yates (ATL) – If Raisel Iglesias pitches today that will be two straight. An appearance today for AJ Minter would be three in a row.
2. Hunter Harvey/Mason Thompson (WAS) – Each member of the Washington hierarchy threw over 20 pitches last night, so if any of them pitch today they will likely be down on Thursday.