Mound Musings: The Phones Are Ringing

Every season at about this time, the phones begin to ring in the offices of General Managers around baseball. I think this season, with so many teams struggling to contain the offensive deluge, they may be ringing with a lot more urgency. It's rough out there. Consider this. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Miracle Mets championship in 1969, we should remember that as a team, the Mets hit 108 home runs. We just passed the halfway point in this season, and 21 of the 30 teams have already surpassed that total. In fact, the Miami Marlins are dead last in team homers, but they are on pace to hit 126 for the 2019 season. Pitching is a hard way to make a living these days.

So, with all the fireworks, it's not too surprising to see that even the best teams could be looking to bolster their pitching. And, now is a great time to explore some possibilities for this season. Some teams need a frontline starter, and almost everybody needs bullpen help. The frontrunners tend to have solid pitching at the top of their rotations (and that bodes well for them in the playoffs) but there are holes in the fourth and fifth slots. Bullpens vary, with some teams needing everything, including a closer, while others struggle to get to the ninth inning. Let's take a look at the needs of some serious playoff contenders and discuss what an addition could mean in fantasy terms.

Some selected teams that are likely to be on the phones:

Atlanta Braves – They have a lot of the pieces, but they are also a prime landing spot for one or more additions. First and foremost, they desperately need a genuine closer. My guess is they are already talking with teams, including the Giants, who own probably the best reliever on the market in Will Smith. That would move Luke Jackson into his ideal role as a set-up guy and relieve any pressure to try A.J. Minter in the ninth again. Starting pitching status is less defined. Ideally, Kevin Gausman comes back healthy and Mike Foltynewicz rediscovers himself, which would minimize the need here. With a talent-laden farm system, they have the trading chips to pursue any target. I really like the Braves – and with their kids, including young ace, Mike Soroka, who doesn't? – and adding one critical piece certainly makes sense for them.

Washington Nationals – Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin make up one of the best top-of-the-rotation trios in the game, and Sean Doolittle is a reliable closer. You can even say Anibal Sanchez, as long as he stays healthy, is an adequate fourth starter, but their Achilles heel has been the bullpen between the starters and Doolittle. Even these guys can't be expected to go eight innings every time out. They have already made some moves to hopefully help, and another move or two could be in their future if they continue to close in on a postseason spot. Tanner Rainey is emerging as a late-inning possibility, but the key guy could be veteran former closer Fernando Rodney whom they just picked up after he was released by the A's. If he has a half season left to pitch the eighth, they got a lot better overnight.

Houston Astros – The Astros have what most teams only dream about these days – a deep and reliable bullpen. Anchored by a top closer Roberto Osuna with Ryan Pressly, Will Harris and Hector Rondon setting him up, they usually make it stick if they can get into the middle innings with a lead. They also have two very good starting pitchers in Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, but there ends the rotation highlights. The back of the rotation has been an ongoing audition all season, and they aren't really any better today than they were when the season began. Injuries have played a part, but even when healthy, the options they have would be better off in that deep bullpen. They have tried a couple of their better prospects like Corbin Martin (now hurt and expected to miss significant time) and most recently Jose Urquidy (the jury is still out, but he does have some skills) while their top young gun, Forrest Whitley, is dealing with shoulder woes making it unlikely he will help in 2019. Position by position, they are one of the top teams in the game, making a deep playoff run a possibility, so the likelihood they will add an established starter is very high, and that addition will have high fantasy value.

New York Yankees – If their pitchers could get and stay healthy, the Yankees would probably be in reasonably good shape, but that's probably not in the cards. They lost their ace, Luis Severino, before the season began, and setbacks continue to push his return date back (now late August). The fragile James Paxton is gamely pitching through nagging injuries, and their senior statesman, CC Sabathia, has been forced to take on a heavier than ideal workload. There's some good news as they welcome back Domingo German, but the Yankees can smell a World Series title and they are unlikely to be shy about adding a hired gun for the run. I think we might also see a really exciting kid at some point (Deivi Garcia), but he isn't quite ready for a regular turn in the rotation. The bullpen is solid as long as closer Aroldis Chapman and his supporting cast, including former closer and top set-up man Zack Britton, aren't overworked. It would get even better with another starter that would allow Chad Green to return to a traditional relief role (he's been serving as an "opener" in bullpen games). The Yankees might be able to win it all with their thundering bats, but it would be uncharacteristic for them to risk it. Look for a new starter in pinstripes soon.

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers might be an "in between" team approaching the trade deadline. They have enjoyed a solid and productive rotation up to this point while sometimes struggling to bridge the gap between their starting pitchers and premier closer Kenley Jansen. However, losing Rich Hill to injury may have shifted their focus to some extent. They have the perfect solution on their roster in Julio Urias, but they cannot afford to pile up innings on one of the best young pitchers in the game as he rebuilds strength and endurance in his return from a shoulder injury. Luckily, they have an alternative in swingman Ross Stripling, but he really fits better in that swingman/spot starter/long reliever role where he isn't overexposed. And, taking him out of the reliever mix further weakens their bullpen. With no additions, they're likely headed for the postseason, and they have the top-of-the-rotation arms to make it work, but I think it's likely they add the arm – a starter, but perhaps more likely a reliever – that they can find at the right price. It's a very good position to be in.

Some Notable Rotation Ramblings:

• I want to take this time to offer my condolences to the family and friends of Angels' southpaw Tyler Skaggs, who passed away this past Monday. Here on the Musings we discuss the finer points of good pitchers and those having less success, but this pointedly reminds us, we are all human. Godspeed, Tyler.
• The Padres have indicated Matt Strahm, at least temporarily, will pitch out of the bullpen. A limit on his workload was expected, and he has already surpassed his innings total from last year, so look for long relief work and maybe an occasional spot start as needed. He has a future, but it will probably wait until 2020.
• I expected to see some good things from Brendan McKay when he made his MLB debut, but he exceeded those expectations. He struck me as having advanced command even when he pitched at the University of Louisville, but he's still progressing. The Rays have yet another blue-chipper coming along.
• More and more I think the Cubs' season will rely heavily upon the return to form of Yu Darvish. The injury to their top starter, Cole Hamels, just magnifies that need. Over the past 30 days, he has a WHIP of 0.96 so he's coming. The home runs remain problematic, but I believe those will subside; hopefully soon.
• Dylan Cease made his much-anticipated debut against the Tigers this week. No real surprises. His stuff is clearly top-of-the-rotation electric. He overthrew his fastball a bit early (first big league start), his breaking pitches were filthy, and the change shows promise. When he locks in a release point, he could be wicked.
• I probably should have included the Brewers in the midseason shopper's list. Brandon Woodruff (a modest 3.79 ERA) has been their most consistent starter, but their bats have been responsible for many of the team's wins. Don't be too surprised if they are caught shopping for rotation help this month.

Endgame Odyssey:

Starting pitchers aren't the only hurlers suffering from home run headaches. Records are falling in the bullpens, too. What are the three months with the most home runs allowed by relievers in MLB history? June 2019, April 2019 and May 2019. I didn't include the Red Sox in the "teams most likely to make a deal this month" section, because they have perhaps had the greatest need (a closer) all year without making a move. They lead the league in blown saves, but that might change soon. Rumor has it injured starter Nathan Eovaldi will serve as their closer when he returns. They could use his help in the rotation, but when healthy, he could return sooner in the bullpen, and he has all the tools to be an outstanding end gamer. I also omitted the Cubs following their signing of Craig Kimbrel. He steps in as their ninth-inning guy and takes some pressure off of their other bullpen arms. The signing probably makes them a slight favorite in an extremely competitive NL Central division assuming Kimbrel can return to form. Surprisingly, A's closer Blake Treinen is already back from a strained rotator cuff. Mark me skeptical. They plan to "ease" him back into the ninth inning, but I suggest keeping Liam Hendriks on your roster for a while, just in case. In St. Louis, Carlos Martinez is the favorite for saves with Jordan Hicks out, but be aware he may not be a stereotypical closer. His ability to pitch multiple innings could mean fewer appearances but more innings pitched. Think Josh Hader (but probably throwing fewer strikes) in Milwaukee.