Dose: Tigers' Bullpen Blues
The 9-4 final score doesn’t make it appear that way, but the Tigers escaped Wednesday’s win against the Mariners by the skin of their teeth. They brought an 8-4 lead into the top of the eighth, giving Blaine Hardy the responsibility of taking them into the ninth. He sandwiched outs around a double to Seth Smith, so manager Brad Ausmus brought Al Albuquerque into the game. He walked pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez.
Ausmus – whose bullpen management has been a hot topic of conversation lately – decided to bring in closer Joakim Soria to finish out the eighth inning. He did, getting Brad Miller to ground out. The Tigers tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth, giving Soria five runs of cushion heading into the ninth inning. But Soria allowed the first two hitters he faced to reach base on a single and a walk, then was fortunate enough to induce a ground ball double play from Kyle Seager before getting Nelson Cruz to line out to end the game.
The Tigers lost to the Mariners on Tuesday when they turned an 8-6 lead into an 11-8 deficit. Neftali Feliz allowed three singles, uncorked a wild pitch, and issued an intentional walk before serving up a go-ahead grand slam to Franklin Gutierrez. It’s nothing new for the Tigers, as they’ve had bullpen issues since day one, when they lost closer Joe Nathan to a season-ending injury on Opening Day. Their bullpen’s aggregate 4.07 ERA is third-worst in the American League, more than half a run of ERA worse than the league average.
Soria has done a decent job as the fill-in closer, earning the save in 22 of 25 opportunities with a 3.08 ERA and a 34/10 K/BB ratio over 38 innings. If the 47-47, third-place Tigers decide to take a swing at the playoffs – don’t forget, the second AL Wild Card leader and the AL’s worst team are separated by only nine games – they’ll have to make an upgrade at closer. Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon is the biggest name available, but he would be the most expensive in terms of money (depending on how much the Phillies cover) and players.
The Tigers are at a bit of a crossroads. They’re a mediocre team in a mediocre American League which may give them a misleading view of their playoff chances. The organization could instead choose to sell and enter a rebuilding mode of sorts, trading away David Price, Yoenis Cespedes, Joakim Soria, Alex Avila, and Alfredo Simon. Needless to say, the Tigers will be among the most interesting teams to watch over the next week-plus leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
Weaver Still Not Ready
Angels starter Jered Weaver said he’s “not yet” ready to return to the Angels’ rotation on Wednesday, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. Weaver struggled in 15 starts prior to landing on the disabled list on June 21, compiling a 4.75 ERA with a 49/16 K/BB ratio over 96 2/3 innings.
Weaver threw 60 pitches in a simulated game on Tuesday, which was expected to be one of the final steps before his return. Instead, the Angels will determine the next step or steps following his bullpen session on Wednesday. Weaver said, “Mechanically, something’s just a click off. I’m just trying to get back to where I know I can be. It’s getting close.”
The Angels have been doing just fine without Weaver, going 18-6 since his departure. Hector Santiago has turned in a stellar season, C.J. Wilson and Garrett Richards have been about as reliable as they come with respective ERA’s of 3.59 and 3.24 entering Wednesday’s action, and Andrew Heaney has been dominant in five starts since his promotion. Matt Shoemaker has a 2.31 ERA over his last four starts.
Who would they take out to make room for Weaver? It might be Shoemaker, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register suggests. Despite the solid results recently, he has a 4.55 ERA on the year and registered only 14 strikeouts in five starts prior to Tuesday.
Orioles Trying to Move Norris
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Wednesday that the Orioles are trying to trade pitcher Bud Norris. It’s not surprising, but it’s also tough to see the O’s getting anything of value for the right-hander considering the season he’s had.
Norris posted a 6.79 ERA with a 39/19 K/BB ratio over 55 2/3 innings spanning 11 starts through June, resulting in a demotion out of the rotation and into the bullpen. Even there, he hasn’t been good, allowing four runs on three hits and four walks with six strikeouts in six innings.
Norris is a free agent after the season and is owed the remainder of his $8.8 million salary for the 2015 season, which comes out to a little under $4 million. The Orioles would have to eat most or all of that to entice a trade.
Though Norris seems like a buy-low candidate, there’s reason to believe things won’t get much better for him. For one, while his 6.71 ERA is way ahead of his retrodictors (5.57 FIP, 4.46 xFIP), it’s not like those retrodictors portray him positively. A 4.50-ish ERA is still not worth the effort of picking up in a trade. His strikeout rate, at 16.3 percent, is by far a career low and his 8.3 percent walk rate is close to a full percent higher than last year’s rate. Norris has also had problems with hard contact, including home runs as he has allowed 13 of them in 61 2/3 innings compared to 20 in 165 1/3 innings last season.
National League Quick Hits: Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar hurt his wrist on a check-swing facing the Mets on Wednesday. X-rays came back negative … Mets starter Noah Syndergaard walked five Nationals in five innings in a no-decision on Wednesday … Braves starter Julio Teheran struck out a season-high 11 batters but lost to the Dodgers on Wednesday … Marlins starter Dan Haren has drawn some trade interest from the Blue Jays, but Mat Latos has not … Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched two scoreless innings and earned a win on Wednesday against the Rays … The Cardinals have reportedly shown interest in Marlins reliever Steve Cishek … The Pirates purchased the contract of infielder Pedro Florimon from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday … Kris Bryant stole two bases and knocked in two runs to help the Cubs edge the Reds on Wednesday … The Reds optioned Tony Cingrani to Triple-A Louisville after he allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings on Wednesday against the Cubs … The Brewers signed pitcher Jeremy Horst to a minor league deal on Wednesday … An MRI on Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson’s left Achilles showed only minor inflammation … The Giants activated reliever Jeremy Affeldt (shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday … Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta left Wednesday’s game against the Marlins after being hit in the head by a Jose Fernandez pitch … Padres pitcher Brandon Morrow (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment this weekend with Triple-A El Paso … Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson (foot) will likely return to the Rockies this weekend.
American League Quick Hits: Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez hit his 20th home run of the season in Wednesday’s win against the Orioles … Blue Jays pitcher Drew Hutchison is questionable for Thursday’s start against the Athletics due to flu-like symptoms … Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and lost to the Yankees in Wednesday’s start, allowing four runs in six innings … Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe homered in Wednesday’s 10-inning loss to the Phillies … Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz will be shut down temporarily after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow on Wednesday … Eric Hosmer homered for the first time since June 19 as the Royals beat the Pirates on Wednesday … Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (thumb) could resume full baseball activities this weekend … The Tigers have reportedly had trade talks with the Cubs about starter David Price … Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 4-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday’s victory against the Brewers … White Sox starter John Danks tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings but got a no-decision on Wednesday against the Cardinals … Mike Trout (heel) returned to the Angels’ lineup on Wednesday against the Twins … Astros outfielder Preston Tucker homered twice on Wednesday in a win over the Red Sox … Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor scored four runs and finished a double shy of the cycle in Wednesday’s win against the Rockies … Outfielder Nelson Cruz homered twice, but the Mariners lost to the Tigers on Wednesday … Athletics outfielder Billy Burns registered a multi-hit game and stole his 20th base on Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
