Bullpen Report: August 1, 2021

NEW FEATURE ALERT! We have added an upgraded version of RosterResource’s Closer Depth Chart to FanGraphs. Read more about it here.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News 
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save.)

Notable Workloads

•Cole Sulser, BAL: Three of last four days; 11 pitches on Saturday.| RosterResource

Every committee closer in the Orioles bullpen has thrown in back-to-back games, but it was Sulser who recorded the save in each. The least taxed arm going into Sunday’s contest with the Tigers is Paul Fry (8 pitches on Saturday, 10 pitches on Friday). Fry, Dillon Tate, and Cole Sulser are all likely candidates to record a save on Sunday if the opportunity comes up.

•Andrew Kittredge, TBR: 26 pitches on Saturday.| RosterResource

Now listed as a “Reliever on the Rise”, Kittredge is one of five committee closers in Tampa Bay. While he will certainly be given save opportunities moving forward, it’s still unclear who will get the lion’s share for the rest of the season. Jeffrey Springs appears to be headed to the IL (see “Injury News” section)  and Matt Wisler (25 pitches on Saturday) is on “High Usage Alert”. That leaves JT Chargois and Drew Rasmussen as likely candidates for a save opportunity on Sunday.

•James Karinchak, CLE: 12 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days.| RosterResource

Now listed as “On the Hot Seat”, Karinchak has had a rough go since the All-Star Break, recording an 11.37 ERA in that time. C0-closer Emmanuel Clase was able to record the save in 1.2 innings on Saturday night with 23 pitches but is also on “High Usage Alert” as a result, in addition to both Nick Sandlin and Bryan Shaw. Given all of this, Clase still seems like the most likely candidate for a save on Sunday if the opportunity comes up.

•Diego Castillo, SEA: 6 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days.| RosterResource

Charged with a loss and a blown save in only his second outing with his new team, Castillo has thrown 21 pitches in the past two days. While co-closer Paul Sewald (also at 21 pitches in two days) remains an option, it is likely that Castillo will get another chance to redeem himself on Sunday if a save opportunity arises.

•Spencer Patton, TEX: 34 pitches on Saturday.| RosterResource

The newly enlisted closer in Texas threw two innings, gave up a home run, allowed two runs (one earned, one unearned), struck out two, and was credited with the win on Saturday night. Either of the two setup men, Joe Barlow or Brett Martin, could see an opportunity for a save on Sunday if Patton needs rest.

•Anthony Bender, MIA: 6 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days.| RosterResource

Yet another situation where the wild trade deadline has left uncertainty and crickets chirping in the bullpen, Miami has four committee closers. Dylan Floro, Anthony Bass, and Richard Bleier are all likely candidates for a save opportunity on Sunday.

 

Injury News

•Tanner Scott, BAL | Roster Resource

Brandon Hyde said that Tanner Scott has a knee injury that will be reevaluated. #Orioles

— Rich DubroffMLB (@RichDubroffMLB) August 1, 2021

Scott has recorded two holds and no saves with nine strikeouts and an 11.81 ERA since the All-Star Break. Mostly used as a situational arm, Scott’s injury could potentially shift things around slightly in the Orioles pen, but likely won’t change much in the closer committee format.

•Jeffrey Springs, TBR | Roster Resource

#Rays’ Jeffrey Springs likely going on injured list with knee sprain https://t.co/pqsopoIzIV

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 1, 2021

Much like the situation in Baltimore, Tampa Bay continues to employ a closer-by-committee format and Springs was listed as a co-closer. Injuries like this show why bullpen arms are such a hot item for contending teams looking to add depth at the deadline. If Springs goes on the IL, the closer committee will go from five members to four members, and likely won’t force a true closer to emerge.

Outlier Saves

•Jonathan Loaisiga, NYY |Roster Resource

While Aroldis Chapman has been solid since the All-Star Break, recording five saves with a 1.13 ERA, though still walking batters at a 5.63 BB/9 rate, Loaisiga was likely giving Chapman a rest on Saturday night. Besides one highly criticized outing on July 25th, Loaisiga has been solid since the All-Star Break where he has not allowed a run to score, take away the 25th outing. Loaisiga and Chad Green remain listed as the setup men in New York, and both should continue to get opportunities when Chapman is unavailable.

Committee Clarity

•Kyle Ryan, CHC | Roster Resource

Ryan will be a reliever to keep an eye on as things develop in Chicago after a sell-off at the deadline. Listed as closer committee members are Ryan, Dan Winkler, and newly acquired Codi Heuer. Ryan was efficient in the ninth against the Nationals on Saturday night as he only needed 16 pitches to record the save, walking one batter then using groundballs and defense to close out the game. Codi Heuer was used as a setup man with the White Sox and carries a 4.99 ERA to the Cubs pen after being traded at the deadline. On Saturday night, Heuer came in as a fireman in the bottom of the eighth after Rex Brothers allowed one run to score and loaded the bases. Heuer got out of the inning, allowing one unearned run to score on a sac-fly. Heuer has been a highly-touted prospect for a few years now and has a tremendous amount of upside. Time will tell how this committee shapes up, but there are a few names to keep an eye on here.

Losing a Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.