Bullpen Report: August 14, 2020

The 2020 version of Bullpen Report includes six 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.
6. Reliever On The Rise: Non-closer who is quickly moving up the depth chart based on potential and recent performance.

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

•Rowan Wick, CHC: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Jeremy Jeffress and Kyle Ryan are candidates for a save chance on Friday if Wick is unavailable after throwing 38 pitches over the past two days.

•Keone Kela, PIT: 28 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

It’s unlikely that the Pirates would allow Kela to pitch on Friday after he threw 28 pitches in his 2020 debut. Richard Rodriguez or Chris Stratton could get a save chance if Kela is unavailable.

 

Injury News

•Keone Kela, PIT | RosterResource

Kela’s first game of 2020 was a non-save situation, pitching with his team ahead by four runs in the ninth. But it quickly became high-leverage after he allowed a leadoff homer to Tucker Barnhart and a single to Phillip Ervin with the heart of the Reds’ order coming up. The 27-year-old settled down, however, retiring Nick Castellanos, Joey Votto, and Eugenio Suarez in order to end the threat.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Rowan Wick, CHC | RosterResource

After closing out the Cubs’ 4-2 win over the Brewers on Thursday, Wick (IP, ER, 2 H, 0 K) has a save in three of his last four appearances. Jeffress has not had a save chance since his second appearance of the season, but he continues to impress with seven scoreless and hitless innings. Neither Ryan or Craig Kimbrel has pitched since the team’s last series more than a week ago.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Reliever On The Rise

•Lucas Sims, CIN | RosterResource

With Michael Lorenzen struggling (10 ER allowed in 5.1 IP before 3.1 scoreless innings on Thursday) and Pedro Strop on the Injured List, there could be an opportunity for someone in the Reds’ bullpen to step into a high-leverage role. The 26-year-old Sims, who has allowed just one earned in 9.1 innings, seems worthy.

While his fastball has steadily creeped up from the low-nineties to the mid-nineties since he entered the majors as a starter with the Braves in 2017, it’s the increase in spin rate that has him missing so many bats over the past two seasons. His 4.60 ERA in 43 innings last season kept him under the radar, but there were plenty of signs that he had the potential to be an impact late-inning reliever.

Today’s #TheFastPitch looks at:

Lucas Sims’ CB:
3285 RPM (3rd in MLB)
.176 wOBA (6th)
.140 BA (10th)
40.6% K rate (17th)
Dozens of ugly swings

Want to hear @LSims_ himself talk about the pitch? Check out my podcast with him here: https://t.co/TXWen69PCG pic.twitter.com/Op9jUPN1jB

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) November 11, 2019

 

In 2020, he’s still making hitters look silly. More importantly, he’s also preventing the other team from scoring against him.

Lucas Sims, Ridiculous 83mph Slider. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Gn1aXLU8MP

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 8, 2020