The team's top three relievers, Kimbrel, Uehara and Smith, are all on the DL. Here's who survived the epidemic, and their likely roles:
Barnes, right-handed generalist -- hitting 98 mph with regularity, Barnes may yet be a Killer B. Barnes has a traditional split in 2016, but a reverse split during prior years.
Buchholz, human white flag -- nobody trusts a rodent.
Hembree, right-handed specialist -- with an enormous traditional split in 2016, Heath should face no LHB except with a ten-run lead.
Layne, left-handed specialist -- no strong splits in 2016, but OPS vs LHB/RHB in 2013-2015: .494/.931
Ramirez, human white flag -- with his arm slot, he ought to be tough on RHB, but so far, so bad:
Ross, left-handed generalist -- with a strong split this year, but minimal split over 2013-2015, Ross is one of the few pitchers that Farrell can use against anybody.
Tazawa, set up -- no strong splits, lots of experience, good command, but vulnerable to the gopherball (especially in the Skydome).
Ziegler, closer -- prior experience as closer, no strong splits, excellent control, and most AL batters are unfamiliar with him.
Farrell's bullpen management has been one of his weak spots, and will be under the spotlight until Kimbrel and Uehara return. Joe Madden would turn this collection of limited specialists into a killer bullpen, but can the Jaw go to war with the army he's got?
Barnes, right-handed generalist -- hitting 98 mph with regularity, Barnes may yet be a Killer B. Barnes has a traditional split in 2016, but a reverse split during prior years.
Buchholz, human white flag -- nobody trusts a rodent.
Hembree, right-handed specialist -- with an enormous traditional split in 2016, Heath should face no LHB except with a ten-run lead.
Layne, left-handed specialist -- no strong splits in 2016, but OPS vs LHB/RHB in 2013-2015: .494/.931
Ramirez, human white flag -- with his arm slot, he ought to be tough on RHB, but so far, so bad:
Ross, left-handed generalist -- with a strong split this year, but minimal split over 2013-2015, Ross is one of the few pitchers that Farrell can use against anybody.
Tazawa, set up -- no strong splits, lots of experience, good command, but vulnerable to the gopherball (especially in the Skydome).
Ziegler, closer -- prior experience as closer, no strong splits, excellent control, and most AL batters are unfamiliar with him.
Farrell's bullpen management has been one of his weak spots, and will be under the spotlight until Kimbrel and Uehara return. Joe Madden would turn this collection of limited specialists into a killer bullpen, but can the Jaw go to war with the army he's got?