Relievers to Stream for Wins and Saves – 8/18

First, notes from last night and thoughts on today’s games:

• Tony Gonsolin is set to start for the Dodgers on Tuesday and despite a positive showing, he still didn’t make it through the fifth inning in his last start, throwing a surprising 82 pitches to get through 4.2 innings. Blake Treinen got the win in Gonsolin’s last start and is the most well rested piece of the Dodgers’ bullpen. If the situation calls for a lefty however, Jake McGee could be called upon first. Los Angeles’ bullpen has recorded four of the six wins during their current winning streak.
• Josh Tomlin will start it off for the Braves and shouldn’t be expected to go very long. Expect Bryse Wilson or Luke Jackson to get the ball and possibly be in a position to steal a win.

 

• The Giants gave Trevor Gott one more chance at redemption and he squandered it, getting just one out and giving up two runs on two hits, including a Tommy La Stella walk off home run. Tony Watson however pitched a clean eighth and Tyler Rogers a clean seventh before him. Watson and Rogers (and Gott) have pitched in three of the last four, but Watson only needed nine pitches Monday so expect him to be the first up if a save opportunity arises Tuesday.
• On the other side, Ty Buttrey threw 19 pitches in a clean ninth inning and was credited with the win for the Angels. Buttrey’s last save came on August 10th, but the Angels haven’t exactly been giving him any opportunities, losing seven of their last 10. Hansel Robles has been much better lately, but Buttrey seems to have a strong hold on the position until given more opportunities to lose it.

 

• Kenley Jansen picked up his seventh save on the season. He needed 26 pitches and has been used in three of the last four games. if he is used Tuesday he should get Wednesday off.
• Taylor Williams was asked to come in the fifth inning for the Mariners while up by five runs, while Matt Magill blew the lead in the seventh. Williams is the closer in Seattle, but actual saves are still going to be far and few between.

 

• Joakim Soria was credited with the loss for the A’s, giving up a double to Nick Ahmed in the ninth after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Jake Diekman filled the rest of the bases and then gave up a walk off single to David Peralta, scoring Ahmed.
• As expected, Ryan Pressly got the night off and the Astros turned to Blake Taylor for the save opportunity against Colorado. Taylor converted on 17 pitches giving up just one hit. If you had him in your line up, well done. Pressley should be just fine moving forward.

 

• Devin Smeltzer got the ball after Matt Wisler started the game’s first two innings and picked up the win. Both Taylor Rogers and Sergio Romo were given the night off as expected and should be available Tuesday.
• Anthony Bass returned to the mound for the Blue jays, albeit in the eighth inning while the Jays were up by four runs. He pitched a clean inning recording two strikeouts and should still be considered for saves as the opportunities arise, assuming his back tightness is behind him. Jordan Romano hasn’t pitched since this past Saturday so expect him in the mix as well.

 

• Franklyn Kilome got the coveted three-inning save for the Mets during their 11-4 rout of the Marlins on Monday and as expected, Chasen Shreve picked up the win after relieving starter Robert Gsellman. Edwin Diaz is now on four days of rest and should be expected to pitch on Tuesday regardless of the situation, just to get him some time on the mound.
• Daniel Hudson blew it in spectacular fashion on Monday, giving up four runs on three hits on 21 pitches, including a Dansby Swanson walk off home run. This comes off an outing in which is needed 23 pitches to record the save on Sunday. It’s safe the say Hudson won’t see the mound on Monday. Will Harris threw 25 pitches on Monday in a clean eighth inning, while Tanner Rainey has thrown 47 pitches of his own in the last two days, so expect Javy Guerra to get the ninth-inning opportunity if needed on Tuesday.

 

• Andrew Miller picked up his second save since the Cardinals resumed play, while Giovanny Gallego and John Gant pitched well leading up to the final inning of the first game of the Monday double header against the Cubs. Rowan Wick was called upon by the Cubs after Kyle Hendricks couldn’t finish off the seventh inning, making him seemingly unavailable for the second game. Jeremy Jeffress took advantage and picked up his second save of the season due to Wick’s apparent unavailability.
• The Yankees wasted no time getting Aroldis Chapman on the mound, plugging him in to a four-run lead in the ninth inning. Chapman gave up two extra base hits before striking out the final two batters to end the threat. He should be available on Tuesday, but don’t be too surprised if the Yankees don’t use him in back to back games just yet, giving Zack Britton one more save opportunity.

 

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