Statcast Pitcher Risers/Fallers - RP Trade Candidates (Week 17)

Welcome back to Rotoballer's series using Statcast to extrapolate, dig into, and commiserate over data to examine pitching performances. The weekly series will be dynamic as we fine-tune our findings and enlighten ourselves on the information and tools at our disposal. We've rolled over the All-Star break and the trade deadline is fast approaching. With […]

Sergio Romo Earns 12th Save Wednesday Versus The Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays closer Sergio Romo did double duty Wednesday versus the Yankees. he would record 1 1/3 innings pitched, but not consecutively. The continuity of the outing was broken up as he was moved to third base for a batter before returning to the mound. He would record the final out of the game […]

Rays Activate Jonny Venters, Call Up Austin Pruitt Wednesday

The Tampa Bay Rays activated relief pitcher Jonny Venters from the disabled list and brought up Austin Pruitt on Wednesday. Activating Venters was an expected move but bringing up Pruitt was made in response to a trade that happened on Wednesday. Venters is a great story due to his tenacity in overcoming injuries that kept him out of […]

Brad Hand Earns First Save in Cleveland

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Brad Hand closed out his first game for Cleveland on Wednesday against Pittsburgh. Hand pitched 1.1 innings of relief and struck out three without letting any batters on. The all-star reliever has been stellar all season and now provides Cleveland with much-needed bullpen depth. Typically, Cody Allen would be the one […]

Mariners Showing Interest In Brad Ziegler

The Seattle Mariners are reportedly interested in acquiring Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brad Ziegler. Ziegler struggled as the closer earlier in the season, but has found his groove in middle relief and has become a solid trade piece for the Marlins. On the season, Ziegler is pitching to a 4.11 ERA and a 35/16 K/BB […]

Fernando Rodney Escapes Trouble In 11th Inning Wednesday

Minnesota Twins closer Fernando Rodney came into Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th inning in a non-save situation and immediately found himself in trouble. With two men on — one of them on third base — and one out, Rodney managed to induce a double-play ground ball to secure the Twins' […]

Rockies Close To Acquiring Seung Hwan Oh

The Colorado Rockies are close to landing Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Seung Hwan Oh. This makes total sense, as the Rockies have one of the worst bullpens in all of baseball. Even closer Wade Davis is 0-3 with a bloated 4.61 ERA and 1.22 WHIP despite 28 saves. Oh would immediately become the team's […]

Blue Jays Close To Trading Seung Hwan Oh

The Toronto Blue Jays appear to be close to trading relief pitcher Seung Hwan Oh, and the trade could be completed on Wednesday, according to sources. Oh has posted a tidy 2.68 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 47 innings with one save for Toronto this year. He had 20 saves last season with […]

Diamondbacks Acquire Matt Andriese

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Andriese has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for catcher Michael Perez and pitcher Brian Shaffer. Perez has played in Triple A this season, while Shaffer is still in the lower minor leagues. Andriese has a 4.07 ERA in 27 games and could be a useful piece to the Diamondbacks […]

Diamondbacks Showing Interest In Keone Kela, Jose Leclerc

The Arizona Diamondbacks have shown interest in Texas Rangers relief pitchers Keone Kela and Jose Leclerc, according to sources. Kela blew his first save of the season just the other day, but both he and Leclerc have been lights-out otherwise and would surely bolster Arizona's bullpen as they try to either win the National League […]

Marlins Asking Price High On Relievers

The Miami Marlins are asking a lot for relief pitchers Kyle Barraclough, Adam Conley and Drew Steckenrider, with all three under team control for multiple years. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro believes that of the three, Conley could be the most realistic to be dealt. The Red Sox, Astros, Dodgers and others would be interested. The Marlins […]

Drew Anderson Optioned, Ranger Suarez Starting Thursday

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Drew Anderson has been optioned to Triple-A following Wednesday's game. Anderson threw one hitless inning on Tuesday, but was not expected to be in Philly for long. No corresponding move as been made yet, but the Phillies need to clear a roster spot, so Ranger Suarez can make his MLB debut […]

Four Teams Checking In On Reds Relievers

The Rockies, Red Sox, Braves and Phillies have all checked in with the Cincinnati Reds regarding closer Raisel Iglesias and relievers Amir Garrett, David Hernandez and Jared Hughes, according to sources. However, one source says the Reds have no plans to move Garrett. Each pitcher is under control past this season, so the Reds will […]

Austin Gomber Shines In His First Start

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Austin Gomber had a great game in his first start. He has gotten some time out of the bullpen, but he made his first start on Tuesday. He gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings. Gomber only gave up two hits while striking out six batters. Gomber has a 3.48 […]

Wily Peralta Records Fifth Save

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wily Peralta was on point again as he nailed down his fifth save of the season on Tuesday night. Peralta wasn't perfect as a triple to Nick Catellanos led to a run, but when the rest of the bullpen around him struggles so much, he still comes out looking great. […]

Andrew Miller Struggles In Rehab Appearance

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (knee) allowed four runs on two hits while walking one and hitting a batter in just one-third of an inning in his rehab outing for Double-A Akron on Tuesday. “I think I’m starting to check boxes. I feel healthy, which is good. It’s as good as I’ve felt in […]

Blaine Hardy Heading Back To Bullpen

Detroit Tigers pitcher Blaine Hardy will move back to the bullpen with the team going to a four-man rotation for the time being with a host of off days coming up. Overall, Hardy has a 3.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and just 44 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings in 19 outings. The swing man has been […]

Brandon Morrow Still Sore

Chicago Cubs closer Brandon Morrow (biceps) said there's still a "little bit of soreness" in his arm, but he thinks he's "going in the right direction." It means that Morrow won't be back anytime soon. In the meantime, Pedro Strop is your best bet for saves in Chicago, but Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr. […]

Orioles Acquire Three Prospects For Zach Britton

The Baltimore Orioles acquired pitching prospects Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers and Cody Carroll from the New York Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for closer Zach Britton. Tate was the Yankees' No. 9 prospect, while Carroll was 15th. The Yankees are also picking up the remaining $5 million on Britton's contract. Tate obviously has the most […]

Sam Tuivailala Earns Big Win Against Reds

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Sam Tuivailala had to earn his third win of the year on Tuesday. He pitched 1 2/3 innings while striking out two batters and only allowing one hit. He has a slightly higher than normal 3.69 ERA, but his K/9 has increased to 7.39. He's in a role in the […]

Blake Treinen Gets 25th Save In Extra Innings Tuesday

Oakland Athletics closer Blake Treinen struck out one batter in a scoreless 10th inning against the Rangers to earn his 25th save of the season. The A’s offense has been clicking on all cylinders, which keeps them in every game and presents more save opportunities for Treinen. He has a 5-2 record with a minuscule […]

Jeurys Familia Gets Win In Comeback

Oakland Athletics reliever Jeurys Familia pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn the win in a 13-10 victory over the Rangers Tuesday. Familia has picked up two wins since being acquired from the Mets on 21 June. In his brief performance in an A’s uniform, he has three strikeouts in four innings without […]

Yonny Chirinos Solid Tuesday Versus Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Yonny Chirinos gave the team a much needed prolonged outing Tuesday versus New York. He went 6 2/3 innings allowing three runs. This allowed the Rays to give their heavily used bullpen some rest as only two pitchers were used by them Tuesday. He took the loss as the Rays were […]

Jonny Venters Has Successful Rehab Outing

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jonny Venters (hamstring) completed his second rehab outing Tuesday. Things seemed to go well and he could be activated as soon as Wednesday. He has filled multiple roles for the Rays this season as a part of the unorthodox system they have used to overcome the injuries to their starting pitchers. […]

Keone Kela Blows First Save Of 2018

Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela blew his first save of the season Tuesday. Kela came in in the eighth and managed to get the Rangers out of the innings, but allowed two inherited runners to score. Kela then came back out for the ninth, where he gave up the game tying home run to the first […]

Brad Brach Earns 11th Save Of Season Tuesday

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brad Brach picked up his 11th save in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Red Sox. Brach entered the game in the ninth inning up by two runs and allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk with no strikeouts. He has now converted 11 of 13 saves this season […]

Orioles Agree To Trade Zach Britton To Yankees

The Baltimore Orioles agreed to send closer Zach Britton to the New York Yankees on Tuesday, according to sources. The full package that the Orioles will land is uncertain, but it's been confirmed that starting pitching prospect Dillon Tate will headline the package. The left-handed Britton will serve as a setup man with his new […]

Yankees Close To Acquiring Zach Britton

Updating a previous story, the New York Yankees are close to finalizing a deal to land Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton in exchange for multiple prospects. Yankees infielder Brandon Drury is not included in the deal on the table. The Yankees also scratched pitching prospect Dillon Tate from his start at Double-A on Tuesday, so […]

Yankees Emerge As Front-Runner For Zach Britton

The New York Yankees have reportedly emerged as the front-runner to land Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton. Fancred's Jon Heyman mentioned that the two teams are in "intense negotiations" while the Athletic's Ken Rosenthal mentions that top prospect Dillon Tate could be involved. No deal is in place yet, but it seems increasingly likely that […]

Roberto Osuna Moving Rehab To Triple-A

Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna is moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo. Osuna has been serving a 75-game suspension for a domestic-violence incident but is eligible to return on Aug. 5. He had a 2.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 13 K's in 15 1/3 innings along with nine saves before his suspension. The […]