Bullpen Report: August 13, 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.

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

•Ian Kennedy, PHI: 26 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Archie Bradley and Héctor Neris both pitched Wednesday and Thursday, thought Neris will probably be available (Bradley threw 22 pitches Thursday). If both are unavailable along with Kennedy, Connor Brogdon and JD Hammer are the best bets.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 24 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos threw 30 pitches on Thursday, so he probably isn’t available Friday, and Génesis Cabrera threw 25. That could leave Andrew Miller and Ryan Helsley as the best options.

Injury News

•Josh Hader, MIL: Activated from the COVID-19 IL (COVID-19) on Thursday. | RosterResource

The Brewers just kept rolling along without their lockdown closer, though they’re certainly happy to have Hader back. He ended up pitching the eighth on Thursday in a blowout win, though he’s certainly going to be back in his usual closing spot for tighter games. Hader’s been one of baseball’s best relievers this season, with a strikeout rate of 46% and a sub-10% walk rate. Devin Williams, Brent Suter and Brad Boxberger filled in for Hader with no issue and will now return to setup roles.

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•Liam Hendriks, CHW | RosterResource

Things didn’t go well for Hendriks at the Field of Dreams game on Thursday, as he allowed two two-run home runs to blow a three-run lead and his seventh save of the season. Nonetheless, it was another data point to show that he’s ahead of Craig Kimbrel in the pecking order, as Kimbrel once again had the eighth inning. Kimbrel is undoubtedly the top option to get saves on days Hendriks is unavailable, but he’s yet to pitch after Hendriks in any game they’ve both appeared in since being acquired from the Cubs.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.