Topa walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his third save of the season in a 6-3 win over the A's.
Andres Munoz handled the eighth inning in this one, leaving the ninth to Topa, and the 32-year-old came through with his first save since July 22. Topa's numbers have taken a bit of a step back in September, but he still has a solid 3.48 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB through 10.1 innings on the month while adding a win and a hold to Wednesday's save over 10 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Secures fifth win Saturday
Rotowire
Topa (5-4) got the win against the Mets on Saturday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and did not issue a walk or record a strikeout.
Topa put out the fire upon entering in the eighth, inducing an inning-ending groundout from Pete Alonso with Jeff McNeil on third in a 7-7 tie. J.P. Crawford's ninth-inning solo shot would snap the deadlock and put Topa in position for the victory, which he subsequently earned during a busy final frame that saw him work around two singles. The right-hander now has three wins in his last five appearances -- including in back-to-back outings -- and he's also garnered six holds dating back to Aug. 15.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Evens record in win
Rotowire
Topa (4-4) secured the win over the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on two hits over one inning. He did not issue any walks or record a strikeout.
Topa got a true backdoor victory to even his season mark, as he actually failed to protect the 3-3 tie he was tasked with preserving by allowing doubles to Aledmys Diaz and Esteury Ruiz during his one inning. However, Topa was able to escape the frame without further damage when Ruiz was thrown out at home on a Ryan Noda flyout, and he then became the pitcher of record when the Mariners took the lead for good with a two-run rally in the home half of the frame. The stumble actually snapped what had been a 26-appearance stretch for Topa without allowing an earned run that dated back to June 27.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Takes fourth loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Topa (3-4) took the extra-inning loss against the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing an unearned run without retiring a batter.
Topa was in for all of two pitches in the 10th inning, and while facing Elvis Andrus, J.P. Crawford's throwing error on a rundown attempt allowed inning-opening runner Tim Anderson to score the winning run for Chicago. The run was the first of any kind on Topa's line since July 22, a span of 13.1 innings across 13 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Nabs third win Tuesday
Rotowire
Topa (3-3) got the victory over the White Sox on Tuesday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded a strikeout.
Topa breezed through his brief time in the game, impressively firing nine of his 11 pitches for strikes while getting Eloy Jimenez on an inning-ending groundout with two aboard when he first entered in the seventh. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run since July 22, a span of 13.1 innings during which he's recorded two wins overall alongside seven holds.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: More high-leverage shots likely
Rotowire
Topa, who recorded his 17th hold in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox with a scoreless one-third of an inning, could see some closing opportunities in the wake of Paul Sewald's trade to the Diamondbacks on Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Topa was called on to get the last out of the eighth inning Wednesday with the Mariners holding a three-run lead, but Kramer notes the 32-year-old could occasionally see higher-leverage opportunities than that the rest of the way. Topa has given up just four earned runs across the 16.2 innings covering his last 20 appearances while producing a 16:3 K:BB, and his 59.8 percent groundball rate for the season speaks to his ability to keep the ball down. Topa has primarily been called on for seventh- and eighth-inning work thus far, yet with manager Scott Servais noting he'll "mix and match" to an extent with the closer role moving forward, the right-hander could get some save chances as well.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Collects second save
Rotowire
Topa gave up a run on three hits while striking out one in the ninth inning of Saturday's 9-8 win over the Blue Jays, recording his second save of the season.
Paul Sewald had pitched Thursday and Friday, while Andres Munoz and Matt Brash had both worked earlier in Saturday's contest, leaving Topa to get a rare save chance. The right-hander got the job done, although he got tagged for his first earned run in nearly a month while doing so. Topa has been a solid addition to the Seattle bullpen this season, posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB through 38 innings while collecting 14 holds and a win in 42 appearances in addition to his two saves.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Takes third loss Saturday
Rotowire
Topa (1-3) took the extra-inning loss against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit over one-third of an inning. He did not issue a walk or record a strikeout.
Topa's blink-and-you-missed-it 10th-inning stint on the mound spanned all of seven pitches, with Ryan McKenna hitting a game-winning two-run home run after Adley Rutschman had flied out to start the frame. The 32-year-old right-hander had produced scoreless efforts in seven of his previous eight trips to the mound, and despite Saturday's stumble, his solid 3.34 ERA and 13 holds across a career-high 32 appearances are all encouraging figures from a fantasy perspective.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Picks up win
Rotowire
Topa (1-2) earned the win over the Yankees on Wednesday after pitching a scoreless inning. He walked one batter and struck out one.
Topa entered the game in the 10th inning after the game remained scoreless after nine. An error and a walk loaded the bases for the Yankees with one out, but Topa was able to work his way around the trouble and concluded the frame by striking out Franchy Cordero. The 32-year-old garnered his first win of the year when the Mariners walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Topa now owns a 3.32 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB to go along with 10 holds and a save in 24 appearances so far this year.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Justin Topa: Solid in six spring appearances
Rotowire
Topa owns a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB across six innings in six Cactus League appearances.
The big right-hander is an intriguing reclamation project of sorts for the Mariners after previously having undergone a pair of Tommy John surgeries and finishing last season with the Brewers on the injured list with an ankle contusion. Topa has appeared healthy this spring while working an inning apiece in each of his six appearances out of the bullpen. He projects for a low-leverage role to open the season, which will limit his fantasy appeal overall.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Summoned from minors
Rotowire
The Brewers recalled Topa from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Just over a week after being optioned to Triple-A, Topa will rejoin the Milwaukee bullpen after starter Adrian Houser (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Topa, who has given up two earned runs over 5.1 innings at the big-league level in 2022, will likely serve as a low-leverage reliever over the final week of the season.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
Topa was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.
Topa would have been unavailable for a day or two after pitching three of the last four days, so the Brewers decided to remove him from the roster to open up a spot for fellow pitcher Aaron Ashby. Topa will likely be at or near the top of the list if the Brewers need to add a reliever before the season comes to a close.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Remains in majors
Rotowire
Topa was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
Topa joined the big-league club as the 29th man for Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants, and he'll remain in the majors after Freddy Peralta (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday. Topa hasn't yet pitched for the Brewers this year but should serve mainly as a middle reliever.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Topa (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Brewers' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Saturday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Topa sustained a significant right elbow injury in September of 2021 and was forced to begin the 2022 campaign on the injured list. The right-hander also dealt with an elbow issue during spring training in 2021, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the Brewers take a cautious approach during his rehab assignment to prevent an aggravation.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Throws live BP
Rotowire
Topa (elbow) threw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Topa is returning from September elbow surgery, and Tuesday marked his first time facing live batters since undergoing the procedure. The 31-year-old is building up at the Brewers' spring training facility in Arizona, and he should move to a minor-league affiliate for a rehab assignment in the next couple weeks.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Officially lands on 10-day IL
Rotowire
Topa (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Topa sustained a significant right elbow injury in September of 2021 that prevented him from pitching in any Cactus League games this spring. While the right-hander was able to do some rehab work during spring training, he'll be unavailable to begin the regular season and doesn't yet have a clear timetable to return.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Dealing with 'significant' injury
Rotowire
Topa was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday with a right elbow injury.
Manager Craig Counsell called the injury that forced Topa from Friday's game "significant," per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, and noted that it's Topa's flexor tendon, which was also a problem in spring training. The Brewers are trying to determine the extent of the UCL damage. Topa has shown tremendous resilience, battling back from two Tommy John surgeries and time in independent ball, but a third TJS recovery would be a daunting hill to climb.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Leaves game with right elbow injury
Rotowire
Topa exited Friday's game against the Cardinals with right elbow discomfort, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Topa was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, and he allowed two runs in one inning in Wednesday's win over the Giants. He gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning prior to his departure in Friday's series opener, but the severity of his injury isn't yet clear.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Joins major-league club
Rotowire
Topa was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Topa surrendered five runs over 1.2 frames during his brief time in the majors in August, and he'll receive another look with one month left in the season. The right-hander should fill a low-leverage role out of the bullpen for Milwaukee.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Justin Topa: Activated by Brewers
Rotowire
Topa (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Topa began the season on the 60-day injured list due to a flexor tendon strain, and he spent nearly a month in the minors on a rehab assignment. Across 10 relief appearances, the right-hander posted a 2.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in nine innings. He'll now be available to make his season debut out of Milwaukee's bullpen.
