Bullpen Report: August 11, 2021 by Jon Becker August 11, 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. 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. Injury News Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group. 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 •Matt Barnes, BOS: Three of last four days; 27 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource Adam Ottavino is the best choice to fill in for Barnes, with Josh Taylor and Hirokazu Sawamura also options. •Scott Barlow, KCR: Three straight days; 9 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource Greg Holland and Jake Brentz are the top options to substitute for Barlow, though Holland threw 31 pitches on Monday after 19 on Sunday, so he may need another day off. •Andrew Kittredge, TBR: 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource The Rays don’t have a set closer right now—Kittredge threw two innings as more of a fireman on Tuesday—so just about anyone could get a save chance on Wednesday. JT Chargois, Collin McHugh, Matt Wisler and Ryan Sherriff are probably the best bets, though. •Spencer Patton, TEX: 32 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource Joe Barlow and Brett Martin have been good in setup roles this year and neither would have a problem sliding into the ninth if needed. •Jake McGee, SFG: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource Co-closer Tyler Rogers would take the ball in McGee’s stead if a save situation presents itself. Injury News •Rowan Wick, CHC: Activated from the 60-Day IL (strained oblique/intercostal) on Tuesday. | RosterResource It was a long road back to Chicago for Wick, who first injured his side way back in September of 2020. Injuries to the oblique and intercostal area are notoriously fickle, but 10 months in between appearances is just about as severe as it gets. Wick pitched well on his rehab; he allowed five runs in 7.1 innings, but all of those runs came in one outing. He struck out 15 of 32 opponents with just seven walks. The post-Craig Kimbrel Cubs bullpen is perhaps the most fluid in the majors, with no anointed closer and nobody really distinguishing themselves thus far. The Cubs have just two saves since the trade deadline, earned by Manuel Rodríguez and Kyle Ryan, neither of whom have pitched well otherwise. So, even after so much time away, Wick should factor prominently in the mix, especially after returning with a scoreless inning on Tuesday. Codi Heuer is probably Wick’s top competition for saves right now, and Dillon Maples could be a factor once he’s activated from the IL (blister). Outlier Saves •Andrew Chafin, OAK | RosterResource Manager Bob Melvin elected to use closer Lou Trivino in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game, even with the bottom of the Guardians’ order due up, so it was the southpaw Chafin who was given the save opportunity after the A’s took the lead in the tenth. It was no easy task, with José Ramírez due up second in the inning. Ultimately, though, Chafin handled the task with aplomb, and thanks to excellent defense by Matt Chapman behind him, pitched a 1-2-3 inning. It was Chafin’s first save of the season, and he’s been unscored upon in 6.2 innings since being acquired from the Cubs. Committee Clarity •None Losing A Grip •None Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart. Not Very Stable Hot Seat Committee Bullpen Report — 8/11/2021 Team Closer First Up Second Up Injured List ARI Tyler Clippard Sean Poppen Joe Mantiply Noe Ramirez ATL Will Smith Richard Rodriguez Luke Jackson BAL Cole Sulser Paul Fry Dillon Tate BOS Matt Barnes Adam Ottavino Josh Taylor CHC Rowan Wick Codi Heuer Manuel Rodriguez CWS Liam Hendriks Craig Kimbrel Ryan Tepera CIN Mychal Givens Michael Lorenzen Lucas Sims CLE Emmanuel Clase James Karinchak Nick Sandlin COL Daniel Bard Jhouys Chacin Carlos Estevez DET Jose Cisnero Gregory Soto Michael Fulmer HOU Ryan Pressly Kendall Graveman Yimi Garcia KC Scott Barlow Greg Holland Jake Brentz LAA Raisel Iglesias Mike Mayers Jose Quijada LAD Kenley Jansen Blake Treinen Corey Knebel MIA Dylan Floro Anthony Bender Anthony Bass MIL Devin Williams Brad Boxberger Brent Suter Josh Hader MIN Alex Colome Tyler Duffey Caleb Thielbar Taylor Rogers NYM Edwin Diaz Seth Lugo Trevor May NYY Jonathan Loaisiga Chad Green Zack Britton Aroldis Chapman OAK Lou Trivino Jake Diekman Sergio Romo PHI Ian Kennedy Jose Alvarado Archie Bradley PIT David Bednar Chris Stratton Chasen Shreve STL Alex Reyes Giovanny Gallegos Genesis Cabrera SD Mark Melancon Drew Pomeranz Emilio Pagan Daniel Hudson SF Jake McGee Tyler Rogers Dominic Leone SEA Diego Castillo Paul Sewald Drew Steckenrider TB Andrew Kittredge JT Chargois Matt Wisler Pete Fairbanks TEX Spencer Patton Joe Barlow Brett Martin TOR Jordan Romano Brad Hand Adam Cimber Joakim Soria WSH Kyle Finnegan Andres Machado Ryne Harper