Lopez and Duran should have combined for the final 7 outs.
Duran pitched 2 innings Monday but it was on like 16 ish pitches. It was light work. And he didnt pitch for like 4 days prior or something like that.
He coulda gotten more than 3 outs no problem. His workload is down.
But today showed another Rocco issue. Even when starters are going deeper this year our pen is still overworked cause guys like Lopez, Jax and Duran pitch in games that are not close "to get work" then magically the next 3 end up close and we are in a bind.
I think that's a reach. Neither Lopez or Duran was used in Saturdays blowout. Sunday Lopez coming in for the 8th when it was 9-3 after Twins just tacked on an insurance run doesn't seem egregious, after Cubs showed life in the 6th.
Duran wasn't used Sunday. I don't think Lopez's one inning Saturday impacted today.
Duran threw 18 pitches Monday, plus 3 warmups in a high leverage situation. Perhaps he could have gotten an extra out but I don't know. Past arm issues might be impacting his workload as well.
Furthermore, both went more than 1 inning Monday and gave up a run each, so maybe there's something to limiting them to 3 outs only. Granted they were automatic inherited runners on 2nd base in extra innings, but there was also a runner on 2nd today in the 7th.
With the Twins bats not being able to break it open it was a tightrope no matter what.
It was Game 44 with 118 left. Regroup and hope Friday works out better. If not, there's another game the next day, then yet another and so on...