Bullpen Report: August 15, 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

•Brandon Workman, BOS: 28 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Workman hadn’t pitched in a week, so it’s possible he’ll be available again on Saturday despite the high pitch count on Friday. If not, Matt Barnes would be the most likely candidate for a save chance.

•Josh Hader, MIL: 35 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Corey Knebel or David Phelps could be candidates for a save chance after Hader and Devin Williams (25 pitches) tallied high pitch counts on Friday.

 

Injury News

•Kirby Yates, SDP | RosterResource

Out of action for a week, Yates pitched to one batter on Friday before leaving the game with elbow discomfort. He’ll have an MRI on Saturday.

When Yates wasn’t used in a save situation against the Dodgers on Monday, it was revealed that he was dealing with some “general soreness” — later revealed to be back tightness — that manager Jayce Tingler believed to be a day-to-day injury. An elbow injury is much more concerning, however, and is almost never one that allows for a quick return to action. Drew Pomeranz is likely the team’s closer for the foreseeable future.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Seth Lugo, NYM | RosterResource

Now that Edwin Diaz has earned his way back to a high-leverage role with six consecutive scoreless outings (6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, BB, 12 K), Lugo will have to prove that he should continue to have at least a share of the closer’s role. Coming off of three consecutive scoreless outings of his own (4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 4 K, 2 Sv), the 30-year-old pitched the bottom of the ninth versus the Phillies on Friday with the game tied at five. After back-to-back singles to Roman Quinn and Andrew McCutchen, Lugo struck out Rhys Hoskins before Bryce Harper delivered a game-winning RBI single.

One bad outing won’t cause manager Luis Rojas to lose faith in Lugo, but it should make it much easier to give the next save opportunity to Diaz.

 

Losing A Grip

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC | RosterResource

Eight days since his last outing, Kimbrel came on in the top of the ninth with the Cubs trailing 4-3 to the Brewers on Friday. Pitching in a one-run game against a division rival is probably much more high-leverage than anyone would’ve expected at this point. But he delivered his first scoreless outing of the season, striking out Avisail Garcia on three pitches to begin the inning. After walking Justin Smoak on a full count pitch, Ben Gamel lined out, and Manny Pina struck out to end the inning.

Kimbrel has a long way to go before he’s back in the closer mix, but this was at least a start.

•Hector Neris, PHI | RosterResource

Back-to-back blown saves to the Orioles on Tuesday (IP, 3 ER) and the Mets on Friday (IP, ER) is probably enough to weaken Neris’ hold on the closer’s job. There isn’t any one obvious candidate, but some sort of committee led by Tommy Hunter, Adam Morgan, and Blake Parker would likely be the alternative if manager Joe Girardi wants to make a change.

•Trevor Gott, SFG | RosterResource

Coming in to Friday’s game, Gott was 4-for-4 in save chances with only one run allowed in six innings. But after blowing a 7-2 lead while recording only one out in the ninth inning against the Athletics (5 ER, 2 H, BB, HBP), however long a leash he had built up with manager Gabe Kapler is probably all but gone now. Best case, he’s one bad outing away from the Giants going with a closer committee.

 

Reliever On The Rise

•None