Shreve’s steady jog has given bullpen shot in arm
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s literally been a running joke in the Pirates bullpen.
That since his Pirates debut May 12, no Pittsburgh reliever has jogged to the mound more frequently than Chasen Shreve, who had made 29 appearances between that date and Saturday’s game against the Giants at Oracle Park, the sixth-most in all of baseball.
Shreve also has earned his opportunities. The 31year-old left-hander has a 2.13 ERA in those 25⅓innings. Furthermore, only five MLB relievers have fared better than his .933 left-on base percentage (LOB%) during that time, according to FanGraphs.
“I honestly take pride in it because it means they have faith in me,” Shreve said.
As the complexion of the Pirates bullpen certainly has changed, with Sam Howard hurt, Kyle Crick gone and Clay Holmes and Richard Rodriguez experiencing some turbulence of late, Shreve — along with David Bednar — has been the group’s steadiest contributor.
Signed to a minor league deal this offseason, the welltraveled Shreve had limited left-handers to two hits in 17 at-bats (.118) between June 25 and Saturday’s game. He had also allowed just six hits in 44 at-bats (.136) with runners on base and given up one home run in his past 24 appearances.
For Shreve, the key has been to stay ready and ensure he’s recovering well between outings, whether that involves massage therapy, blood-flow restriction or paying even more attention to his hydration.
“Over the years I’ve gotten a good idea of what to do when I throw multiple innings or back-to-backs or three of four,” said Shreve, who has pitched for the Braves, Yankees, Cardinals and Mets since making his MLB debut in 2014. “Sometimes I’ll do more. Sometimes I’ll do less. Whatever I need to do to stay on the field.”
The consistency with which Shreve has been able to work has also helped him. The Pirates played 26 games in June, and Shreve appeared in 12 of them. He pitched in eight of their first 18 contests this month.
“I like the consistent work,” Shreve said. “Obviously it can take a toll, but if you keep on your stuff, it’s OK.”
As for the actual pitching part, Shreve has evolved some this season. He said he’s been happy with his fastball velocity and location, and that tracks with the results that pitch’s .371 slugging percentage against.
At the same time, Shreve was semi-critical of his best offering, his splitter. Last year, Shreve’s splitter produced an opposing slugging percentage of .306 and a whiff rate of 54.4% — the highest for any left-handed reliever in MLB with 25 or more innings.
Those numbers have been at .452 and 30.8 this season. They’re still good, but Shreve believes they can be better. He also thinks hitters are sitting on the splitter, knowing he likes to use it a lot (40.3%).
“My splitter has been OK this year,” Shreve said. “It’s not what it was last year. I’m still trying to figure out why.
“I need to make adjustments in-game because in the bullpen they’re great. I get out in the game, I rush, and they’re not as good.”
One way Shreve has started to compensate involves his slider, which he’s throwing 16.9% of the time. That’s more than twice as frequently as Shreve used the pitch in 2020 (8.1%) and the most for him since 2016.
Shreve has had a good feel for his slider, and he’s been able to locate in down in the zone, a place where a left-hander typically won’t get hurt.
Coupled with a fastball that can tail arm-side and a splitter that breaks down, the slider essentially gives Shreve a third direction or something else to confuse hitters.
“When my splitter is going great, that’s my go-to,” said Shreve, who has allowed just one single on his slider this season. ‘When it’s not moving how I want, I do rely on the slider a little more.”
The good news for Shreve is that he should receive ample opportunity to work on stuff, as it’s been no more than day or two between appearances lately.
It’s been a pretty big change in work rate for someone who — sort of oddly — didn’t make the big club out of spring training.
“We have talked about the fact that I’ve been pitching a lot,” Shreve said. “I just go where they tell me and pitch when they tell me. That’s what I tell the younger guys, too. Go where they tell you, pitch when they tell you and do your best. That’s all you can do.”
Crick released
After Kyle Crick cleared outright waivers, the Pirates placed him on release waivers for the purpose of ending their relationship with the righthanded reliever.
The Pirates designated Crick for assignment Monday after they acquired lefthanded pitcher Dillon Peters from the Angels.
Crick has been on the injured several times in the past two years and was most recently out with a right triceps strain. In 12 innings since returning, Crick has pitched to a 7.50 ERA.