Mound Musings: Checking in on NL Bullpens

I usually look at bullpens after we have gotten deep enough into the season that changes in assignments begin to occur. This season, I decided that look needed to happen earlier. In fact, the bullpen shuffle has made it necessary to evaluate just one week in. Last week we discussed the American League. This week, it's the National League's turn. So, we'll take a look at a few teams still/already struggling to find answers in the bullpen. Let me preface this with an apology. I'm sorry if a late-breaking change isn't included in the body of the column. I will try my best to include the most current situations, but things change minute by minute, so please review the comments to get updates. As many starting pitchers are working fewer innings, the scramble is on for help in the endgame – an "endgame" that has been happening earlier and earlier.

Bullpen role shifts result from illness, injury, and ineffectiveness

There have been a few assignments dictated by the coronavirus, even more impacted by injuries, and some have been the result of ineffectiveness. And, there have even been a handful that don't appear to be attributable to any of the above. This has been a wild year in both rotations, and bullpens, and it's probably not settled yet. There are still shaky situations with more potential adjustments to come. Let's take a look at some bullpen assignments in the NL and see how they stack up for the foreseeable future:

Here are some NL bullpen scenarios to keep an eye on:

• St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals bullpen looked like it might be settling in, but then it was announced Miles Mikolas would require season-ending surgery, and Carlos Martinez hit the injury list creating rotation vacancies. Just days later, their season was put on hold following an outbreak of COVID-19 within the organization. At last count, there were six positive tests among players, but none of their key arms are involved, so that could help in sorting things out. My take on it would see the recently named closer, Kwang-Hyun Kim, moving into the rotation, while Giovanny Gallegos steps in to handle the ninth inning. Assuming they are all healthy, there is still quite a bit of depth here, so there is some chance others like Andrew Miller or even Ryan Helsley could also enter the mix.
• New York Mets – The Mets invested quite a bit in their bullpen the past couple of years, and so far it's been an expensive train wreck. Edwin Diaz was incredible in 2018, but he's been brutal since coming to New York. I've watched him several times, and everything looks okay, he just can't seem to hit his spots. I feel like he might be one of those guys who has trouble with the white hot lights of the Big Apple. Right now, the team is experimenting with role assignments. Seth Lugo has been their most reliable reliever, but he's better suited to more flexible usage. Dellin Betances is still struggling to get back into game shape and is not the pitcher he once was, at least not yet. That leaves Jeurys Familia as the other logical candidate, but he has also been inconsistent. Lugo may be forced to handle closing duties, but the Mets really need Diaz to find himself.
• San Francisco Giants – This one is probably a committee with no true closer on the roster. Tony Watson has some closing experience, but he's really a set-up guy. He could see some save chances when the situation calls for a southpaw. Journeyman Trevor Gott is probably the first call on the right-handed side. He's not in the mix today, but I actually think Shaun Anderson could eventually get some late-inning work if he can string together some strong outings. The future closer could be Reyes Moronta, but he's working his way back from shoulder surgery, and even with no setbacks, he won't be back until late August. And, with a history of command problems, he might not be ready to step in then. This is probably a pen to avoid unless you're desperate for saves.
• Chicago Cubs – The Cubs tried Craig Kimbrel yet again earlier this week, and he was ineffective, again. It's time for a change. Okay, it's well past time. The Cubs really don't have a clear cut alternative. Jeremy Jeffress has some closing experience, but he has posted mixed results in those trials. He might be more of a fill-in ninth-inning guy. Rowan Wick has less experience, but he has good stuff and might emerge as the primary closer assuming the team doesn't decide to look outside the organization in search of a more proven guy.
• Colorado Rockies – It's not easy pitching in Coors Field. I get that. But you need to be at your best to have a reasonable chance for success, and veteran reliever Wade Davis hasn't been there recently. Now, he's on the IL with shoulder woes, and their best closer candidate, Scott Oberg, may not pitch this year after suffering a recurrence of blood clot issues in his right arm. That means we move down the list. Next up is Jairo Diaz. I like his stuff, but there's good news and bad news. His command has been marginally better, that's the good, but his velocity has been down a bit. He's a better option than Davis, and with Oberg unavailable, he will be the guy for the foreseeable future. Of course, as always, there's risk involved pitching in Colorado.
• Pittsburgh Pirates – This may not prove to be a transformative scenario. The Pirates have already announced Keone Kela will return to the closer's role when he comes back after missing time in Spring Training 2.0 following a positive COVID-19 test. He has cleared the testing protocols and is expected back in the next few days. Nick Burdi actually did a reasonable job filling in, but despite the Pirates carefully monitoring the workload of the oft-injured reliever, he has gone on the injured list and may not be back in 2020. Kela can be a bit erratic, but at his best he is an adequate closer. Richard Rodriguez is probably the primary set-up guy. He'll join Kyle Crick (who is currently recovering from a sore shoulder) and a sleeper for late-inning work, Dovydas Neverauskas.
• Washington Nationals – Sometimes role transitions happen quietly, with little or no fanfare, and minimal drama. That could be what we're seeing in Washington right now. Lefty Sean Doolittle has done an excellent job as the Nationals closer the past couple years, but he relies almost exclusively on his fastball (no easy feat), and his velocity has declined. It's early, but Daniel Hudson has been getting the save chances, and he has been getting it done. I think this will continue. Hudson is definitely a very capable end gamer, and he makes an excellent right-handed complement to Doolittle. I would guess they will both collect saves, depending on current performance and matchups, but Hudson is now quite possibly the guy to own in this pen.

Some Notable Rotation Ramblings:

• The much-anticipated debut of Toronto's Nate Pearson took place last week, and no one was disappointed. His electric arm is creating quite a stir. Just be aware, he's still young and learning on the job, so there likely will be occasional bumps in the road, but I think the good will outweigh the rough spots.
• In what is rapidly becoming the year of the injured list, Mike Soroka was lost for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon. That's a tough injury for which to set a timeline for return, ranging from six to 10 months, but the Braves hope his recovery goes smoothly and their young ace can be ready to go by spring.
• Speaking of young aces, Oakland unveiled their nominee when Jesus Luzardo made his first MLB start earlier this week. The southpaw pitched very well out of the bullpen last September and earlier this season, but he should be a fixture in the A's rotation for many years. He's got the tools, and good mound presence.
• I do want to comment on an older guy, too. I watched Clayton Kershaw pitch in his return and found myself muttering, "whoa, what was that" more than once. His offseason work on mechanics has made a significant difference in both velocity and sharpness of his breaking pitches. He looked better than ever.
• The Yankees have to be worried about James Paxton who was ineffective and left his last start after just three innings. I love this guy, but he has suffered a significant dip in his normal velocity. This could be lingering effects from the back woes he suffered this spring. Hopefully he can iron out things very soon.
• Sandy Alcantara, the leader of the Marlins decimated pitching staff, has been joined by 11 – wow – other pitchers on the COVID-19 injured list. He has a lot of upside, and this could be something of a breakout year for him if he can bounce back fairly quickly. Let's hope everyone makes it back on the field very soon.

Endgame Odyssey:

It's relatively unusual for a pitcher to find his way into the closer's role without being on my radar, but it happens. With Hunter Harvey on the injured list, Baltimore has turned to Cole Sulser to close games. Guess I'll have to see if I can catch him pitching. It seems like it never ends. Houston's Roberto Osuna is likely headed for Tommy John surgery, which could cost him all of 2021. Ryan Pressly is the most likely benefactor for saves, especially since the entire Astros bullpen has been decimated with injuries. But, a dark horse possibility would be Josh James. He fits well here, if they can find a rotation replacement. In Kansas City, Trevor Rosenthal seems to be the CoW (Closer of the Week), but Greg Holland and Ian Kennedy are still options. How long can it be before they throw Josh Staumont into the mix? After a few disastrous appearances by the Angels' Hansel Robles, he has lost his job as the team's closer. I like Ty Buttrey who got the first save chance, but I think we are in audition mode, and Keynan Middleton may also get a look. Anthony Bass is currently closing for Toronto, but the injury news on Ken Giles was encouraging. He has a mild forearm strain and could return in a couple weeks.