Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Terrific Tillman
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To get back to the postseason this year, the Orioles were going to need a starter or two to step up. So far Chris Tillman is coming through.
Tillman continued his fantastic start to the 2016 campaign with a brilliant effort at Fenway Park on Tuesday, holding the Red Sox to one run on five hits and two walks over seven frames. He struck out seven on the night, serving up only a solo home run to Jackie Bradley. The outing continued Tillman’s mastery over Boston, as he boasts a 2.74 ERA over 19 starts in his career against the Red Sox.
The 28-year-old is pitching the best ball of his career at the moment. Tuesday’s outing pushed his ERA back under 3.00 at 2.87, and he’s put up a 1.16 WHIP and 82/31 K/BB ratio over 84 2/3 innings while going 9-1. The 8.7 K/9 rate would easily be Tillman’s career best, as he entered the season with a career 6.7 K/9 rate, including a 6.2 K/9 rate during his awful 2015 season.
So what has changed? Well, Tillman is throwing harder than he has in a few years and he’s also mixing in more cutters than ever. It’s all lead to a swinging strike rate that blows his previous rates out of the water. It’s tough to say how much of these improvements can stick. We’ve seen Tillman be a very capable pitcher before, but his stuff is looking better now than it’s ever been.
Tillman will face the Blue Jays this weekend as he tries to keep his All-Star worthy-campaign going.
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Drunk on Jameson
Facing the same team twice in a row to open your major league career isn’t exactly the easiest way to break into the big leagues. Jameson Taillon is unfazed.
Taillon was solid against the Mets last week in Pittsburgh and he was outstanding against them on Tuesday in New York. The young right-hander carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, ultimately settling for eight frames of shutout ball that included just two singles, one walk and five strikeouts. Taillon relied primarily on a 95-96 mph fastball and nasty curveball.
It’s been quite the bounce-back season for Taillon in 2016. He missed the 2014 campaign following Tommy John surgery and the 2015 season after a hernia operation. The righty’s main goal in 2016 might have been just to stay healthy, but he put himself on the fast track to the majors with a 2.04 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 61/6 K/BB ratio across 61 2/3 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Pirates haven’t divulged any long-term plans for Taillon, but it’s difficult seeing him not get a long look in the big league rotation at this point. Gerrit Cole was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained triceps, and while the Pirates hope he’ll only be out 15 days, that wouldn’t seem to be a guarantee. There’s also Juan Nicasio’s struggles of late and the fact that the Pirates have all but said he’ll probably wind up in the bullpen eventually. Additionally, we can list Jeff Locke among those whose rotation spot isn’t etched into stone.
Taillon will be facing an innings limit at some point and he does have just eight strikeouts over his first 14 major league frames. However, the stuff is certainly there and Taillon looks ready to tackle big league lineups. Assuming he stays on turn in the Pirates’ rotation, he’ll face a stiff test on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
Papelbon Parked
Something certainly seemed amiss when it was Shawn Kelley and not Jonathan Papelbon recording the save in Monday’s win over the Cubs. As it turns out, Papelbon was dealing with an injury that has forced his first ever trip to the disabled list.
On Tuesday, the Nats placed Papelbon on the DL with a strained right intercostal muscle. Papelbon evidently was injured while warming up Sunday before an appearance where he allowed a go-ahead home run to the first batter he faced. The Nationals haven’t placed a timetable on Papelbon’s return, but it’s an injury that typically requires longer than a minimum stay on the disabled list.
“Well, obviously you don’t ever want to go on the disabled list,” Papelbon said. “I’ve never been on the disabled list. I’ve taken a lot of pride in never being on the disabled list. I think in my situation here, we gotta make the smart decision. It’s early in the season. There’s no reason to push anything right now, I believe.”
Manager Dusty Baker wouldn’t name a replacement at closer while Papelbon is on the shelf, but Kelley looks like the obvious guy at the top of the pecking order. He’s actually been a little shaky of late with 7.56 ERA over his last eight appearances, but the 32-year-old owns a 2.70 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 34/5 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 frames on the season and struck out four of the five batters he faced while picking up Monday’s save. Felipe Rivero was warming up during Kelley’s appearance Monday and could be used by Baker in the ninth when tough lefties are due up. Blake Treinen and Sammy Solis might also be in the mix. Kelley is the guy to shoot for in mixed leagues, though.
The guess here is that Baker gives Papelbon his job back when he’s ready, but it’s not out of the question that Kelley could at least give the skipper pause if he pitches well. Kelley has a bit of closing experience in the past and boasts an 11.8 K/9 rate over the last four seasons. Papelbon, on the other hand, has seen his strikeout rate bottom out at 6.9 K/9 this season and his walk rate rise to a six-year high. He also holds a 4.05 ERA over his last 13 appearances and was scored upon in three of his last five outings before going on the DL. Baker is a guy who’s generally always sided with experience and that will probably be the case here, but it’s something to keep in mind.
National League Quick Hits: David Wright has met with the Mets’ team doctor to discuss the possibility of season-ending neck surgery … Joc Pederson clobbered a pair of solo home runs in Tuesday’s victory over the Diamondbacks … Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored on Tuesday against the Yankees … Gerardo Parra had to be carted off the field with a left ankle injury after a collision with Trevor Story on Tuesday against the Yankees … Kenta Maeda left Tuesday’s start against the D’Backs after taking a comebacker off his right leg, but X-rays came back negative … Buster Posey had four hits at the plate in Tuesday’s win over the Brewers … Michael Conforto has been diagnosed with sprained cartilage in his left wrist, although he pinch-hit on Tuesday … Jay Bruce ripped a three-run home run in Tuesday’s win over the Braves … Jean Segura went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Tuesday’s loss to the Dodgers … Matt Cain was placed back on the disabled list Tuesday with an aggravation of his right hamstring injury … Derek Dietrich will undergo an X-ray on his injured left foot … Angel Pagan (hamstring) was activated from the disabled list Tuesday … The Dodgers signed Will Venable to a major league contract … The Mets plan to activate Travis d’Arnaud (shoulder) from the disabled list Tuesday … The Reds recalled Jose Peraza on Tuesday … The Cubs signed Brian Matusz to a minor league contract … Jeff Mathis smashed a grand slam in Tuesday’s win over the Padres …
American League Quick Hits: Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in Tuesday’s win over the Phillies … Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s victory over the Indians … Taijuan Walker departed Tuesday’s start with an injury to the arch of his foot … Carlos Beltran didn’t play Tuesday due to a sore knee … Ubaldo Jimenez has been bumped from the Orioles’ rotation … Carlos Gomez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and three runs scored in a win over the Cardinals on Tuesday … Michael Saunders left Tuesday’s game with a tight hamstring … Steven Souza left Tuesday’s game with a hip injury, but X-rays came back negative … Corey Dickerson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and go-ahead RBI single in Tuesday’s comeback win over the Mariners … Justin Upton went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and four RBI in Tuesday’s win over the White Sox … Tyler Saladino went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in a loss to the Tigers on Tuesday … David Price struck out 11 and allowed three runs over eight frames but took a loss against the Orioles on Tuesday … The Angels are expected to activate Andrelton Simmons (thumb) from the disabled list on Wednesday … An MRI on Sean Manaea’s left forearm didn’t show any structural damage … Yovani Gallardo (shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list Saturday against the Blue Jays … Brock Holt is still dealing with post-concussion symptoms … Elvis Andrus had three hits – including a homer – in Tuesday’s win over the A’s …
