Examining Cubs, Reds, Tigers, Royals, and Blue Jays

This week, the column visits the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays bullpens to determine what is going on and where each of these teams might go from here.  We start in Wrigley.

With the Chicago Cubs Opening Day closer Adbert Alzolay (RHP, CHC) on the 60-day IL with a flexor strain, and Julian Merryweather (RHP, CHC) also out for the foreseeable future, Craig Counsell has been patchworking together the middle innings between starters and Hector Neris (RHP, CHC). It has not been great. Here are the skills to-date:

CHCSVHDIPERAxERAWHIPK%K-BB%HR/9
Neris, Hector8323.02.744.931.5220%3%0.4
Leiter Jr., Mark0823.13.473.011.2432%24%0.4
Alzolay, Adbert IL4117.14.674.721.4417%9%3.2
Miller, Tyson02

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From Relief Pitchers

Projections should guide your skills choices, but you should also examine how teams are deploying their relievers. Here is an early view of five pens' usage.
Apr 13 2025 3:09am
Everything is amplified the first day, first week. Let's take a look.
Mar 30 2025 3:10am
Some things observed in March that you should know going into 2025.
Mar 21 2025 3:08am
This is the companion article to go with the AL article making observations about 2025 spring training bullpens.
Mar 21 2025 3:07am

Tools