It’s been a struggle for Chad Green over the past 15 days, as the reliever has allowed eight earned runs over his last 6.1 IP following a 10-day layoff in the middle of August. Green’s velocity has actually been higher over that stretch, but it’s his new curveball that has been getting hit around as of late. He’s still only allowed four hits (three being homers, however) with his fastball over 228 pitches, but his curve now has a .333 BA and .556 SLG against. The xStats still seem to indicate Green will be just fine, but with the Yankees currently in a free fall, I think Green and Adam Ottavino deserve to be bumped down.

Notes

• After having a BABIP between .287 and .309 over the past three seasons, Tony Watson is riding a .162 BABIP this year to career-low ERA and WHIP numbers. Despite losing 3.4 mph on his fastball this season, Watson has been able to dominate by throwing his changeup more often. He and Tyler Rogers are sharing the closer role, but I’d lean towards Watson being the guy to roster right now.
• Of course David Phelps has struggled since being traded to the Phillies, because that seems to just happen to any reliever who winds up there. In his last three outings, Phelps has only been able to get through an inning pitched, allowing five hits, three walks and five earned runs.
• Emilo Pagan is expected to return from his short IL stint today or tomorrow, and I’d imagine he’ll slot back into a setup role right off the bat. He was pitching much better the two weeks prior to landing on the IL.
• Andrew Miller returned from the IL this week and has looked fine so far. He already has a hold in two outings, so expect him to see plenty of high leverage work going forward, assuming he stays healthy.
• Another high leverage reliever working to get off the IL, Pedro Baez faced live hitters yesterday and is expected to return to the Dodgers bullpen this weekend. It’s good timing for the Dodgers, as their bullpen could use some reinforcements after this past week.

 

 

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)