RADIO
So I just looked at the calendar and...July?? Already? Well, that means the All-Star Break is coming up and the trade deadline is this month (yeah, it's August 2nd this year, but let me have this for the narrative please.) Another eventful week in bullpens across the league setting up what we know for sure will be an eventful month. July for baseball fans is like December for...normal people.
This week, we saw one of the league's best setup guys throw his last pitch of the season. We saw one of the league's best closers head to the injured list, and we saw one bullpen that looked like it was finally coming together show signs of possibly falling apart all over again. Oh, and also we saw quite a baseball brawl to kick things off. All the bullpen stuff, coming up. Plenty of baseball fight discourse on other places online.
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Atlanta Braves - Bullpen and Closers News
Braves closer Kenley Jansen was placed on the injured list with an irregular heartbeat this week. Jansen dealt with similar heart issues in his time with the Dodgers, but the Braves don't seem to think this will be a particularly long stay on the IL. They've specifically said that he can continue throwing and staying in shape in the meantime, so he likely won't need a rehab stint or anything either. His stay on the IL could end up being the minimum of 15 days if things go well. Immediately, Will Smith was the one everyone thought would close in Jansen's place, but it was A.J. Minter on the mound for the first Braves save chance this week. Smith was available, but Minter was the choice for the ninth inning. It could end up being a temporary committee of sorts for however long Jansen is out, but Minter has to get the slight nod based on being the first one out. He's worth picking up in all formats and should already be rostered in holds leagues.
Risers: A.J. Minter, Will Smith
Fallers: Kenley Jansen
Boston Red Sox - Bullpen and Closers News
As loyal readers of Closers and Saves Report know, we had to retire the Elmo-fire-dot-gif reference to the Red Sox bullpen recently, as Tanner Houck took over and pitched well in the closer's role, finally solidifying something in the Boston bullpen. This week, however, due to his overwhelming freedom, Houck was unable to travel with the team to take on the Blue Jays in Toronto. That woke Elmo up a little bit. Then, later in the week, manager Alex Cora shook Elmo and lit him on fire again by saying that Garrett Whitlock would return to the bullpen once he is healthy. For now, it's still Houck in the ninth, but we could see maybe a shared inning with Whitlock before long. A sell-high window on Houck is open and slowly closing.
Risers: Garrett Whitlock
Fallers: Tanner Houck? Maybe?
Oakland A's - Bullpen and Closers News
The A's bullpen seemed set with early season darling Dany Jimenez, but then he started to struggle and then he got hurt and stopped pitching altogether. Many assumed A.J. Puk would take over for Jimenez, but instead it looks like it's veteran Lou Trivino back in the ninth inning for Oakland. Realistically, they are likely trying to build Trivino's trade value heading up to the trade deadline by adding a few saves to the back of his baseball card. Even if Jimenez does come back soon, we could see Trivino hold onto the closer's role until he gets moved to another team at some point later this month. He's not anywhere near as bad as his 7.17 ERA implies (just a 3.82 xERA and 2.80 FIP), so he could be worth picking up in saves leagues, even though his value is likely temporary.
Risers: Lou Trivino
Fallers: Dany Jimenez
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Matt Bush landed on the IL this week, so Dennis Santana likely moves into the key setup role for the Rangers.
-A neck strain sent Josh Staumont to the IL for the Royals, leaving Dylan Coleman as the likely setup man in Kansas City.
-Daniel Hudson fell off the mound and tore his ACL, knocking him out for the rest of the season. The main setup guy in Los Angeles was having a great season but will now leave the eighth inning to Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips.
-Brooks Raley earned a save this week, but it looks like Colin Poche and Jason Adam are probably still ahead of him in the Rays bullpen. But, it is the Rays bullpen, so who knows?
-David Bednar is dealing with a lower back issue and hasn't been available for a couple of games for the Pirates. The team doesn't expect him to need an IL stint, so we'll hopefully see him pitching again soon.
-Andrew Bellatti could be emerging in the Phillies bullpen. He has tons of swing-and-miss stuff and is getting more and more significant innings.
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