Results for: Bullpen

The Detroit Tigers’ bullpen, which has been nearly flawless through the first three weeks of the season, has blown a lead. The Tampa Bay Rays scored three runs in the sixth inning to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The Tigers took two of three from the Rays this week and finished 4-2 on the six-game road swing.

The Tigers scored twice in the top of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead, but the Rays got a couple of hits off Tigers reliever Will Vest in the bottom of the sixth, and Curtis Mead hit a game-winning home run. It was a tough-luck loss for Vest and the Tigers, who couldn’t mount a second comeback in the final three innings.

Tigers starter Jack Flaherty labored early but made it through five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out six, didn’t walk a batter and retired the final six batters he faced.

The Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen has been a key factor in the team’s early success. Right-hander Hunter Gaddis and left-hander Tim Herrin have been particularly impressive, contributing to the bullpen’s stellar 7-2 record with a 2.05 ERA. Gaddis has not allowed a run in 12 appearances and boasts a .132 opponent batting average, while Herrin has posted a 0.75 ERA in 11 games. Both pitchers have embraced the bullpen mentality, allowing them to aggressively target hitters using a variety of pitches.

Miami Marlins’ A.J. Puk, initially designated as a starter, will return to the bullpen upon his recovery from a shoulder injury. Despite promising potential as a starter, Puk’s struggles with injuries and underwhelming rotation performance prompted the decision. The Marlins’ rotation has faced depletion due to trades and injuries, initially leading to Puk’s promotion. However, poor results and Puk’s injury have led to a shift in strategy, with the team seeking stability and depth in their pitching staff.

The Giants’ struggles continued on Wednesday as they dropped an 8-2 decision to the Mets. Despite missing their scheduled starter, Blake Snell, the Giants were unable to overcome a shaky bullpen performance and numerous missed scoring opportunities. The loss prevented the Giants from climbing back to .500 and marked their fifth consecutive loss in games scheduled for Snell to start. The Giants will look to bounce back on Thursday as they welcome the Pirates to Oracle Park for a three-game series.

Despite injuries to key pitchers, the Yankees’ bullpen has remained strong thanks to the contributions of Ron Marinaccio. Marinaccio, who struggled in 2023, has shown significant improvement this season, with a 1.80 ERA over five innings. His four-seam fastball has been particularly effective, while his changeup, once his go-to pitch, has become a liability. However, Marinaccio is working to improve his command of the changeup, and his recent performances indicate progress.

After a disastrous start to the season, David Bednar has shown signs of his former All-Star self. The 29-year-old has pitched three scoreless outings in a row, converting the save in back-to-back wins over the Milwaukee Brewers. Bednar’s resurgence has come at a crucial time for the Pirates, who have struggled with their bullpen this year.

After weeks of late-game blunders, the Dodgers bullpen redeemed itself Tuesday night with a dominant performance. Five relievers combined for 4 ⅔ scoreless innings, overcoming offensive struggles and starter James Paxton’s early exit. Michael Grove, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson, and Evan Phillips played crucial roles, holding the Nationals scoreless until the Dodgers offense finally broke through in the late innings. Despite facing a strong outing from Nationals starter Patrick Corbin, the Dodgers rally culminated in a two-run eighth, capped by Shohei Ohtani’s impressive home run.

Angels reliever Robert Stephenson has undergone Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2023 season. The injury occurred during his rehab outing on April 13th and will require an internal brace to support the reconstructed ulnar collateral ligament. Stephenson was expected to be the primary setup man for closer Carlos Estévez and was a key part of the Angels’ bullpen. The Angels have an option to bring Stephenson back in 2027 for $2.5 million.

Despite missing key relievers, the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen has emerged as a strength, playing a pivotal role in the team’s impressive start to the season. Two standout relievers, Hunter Gaddis and Sam Hentges, have impressed with their dominance, and the overall bullpen has the second-lowest ERA in the American League with a league-leading 105 strikeouts.

The San Francisco Giants have recalled veteran reliever Luke Jackson from the injured list and optioned rookie Nick Avila to Triple-A in a move to bolster their struggling bullpen. Despite a solid outing from starter Jordan Hicks, the Giants fell 5-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, with Erik Miller surrendering the decisive runs. Avila, Sean Hjelle, and Jackson threw three scoreless innings, but their efforts proved moot. The Giants currently have the second-worst bullpen ERA in the majors (5.56), with rookies accounting for over half of the innings covered. The team hopes that Jackson’s return and the impending arrival of Mitch White will provide much-needed stability to the relief corps.