Bullpen Report: August 15, 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.
- 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
•Chad Green, NYY: 25 pitches on Saturday.| RosterResource
Jonathan Loaisiga is also on “High Usage Alert” after throwing 22 pitches on Saturday. Zack Britton is “On the Hot Seat” (more in the Outlier Saves section below) and Albert Abreu is a “Reliever on the Rise”. Regardless, it’s likely that the opportunity still goes to Chad Green if it’s a close game on Sunday.
Injury News
•None
Outlier Saves
•Corey Knebel, LAD |Roster Resource
Saturday’s contest with the Mets went into extra innings (10) and the Dodgers rolled out Alex Vesia in the eighth and part of the ninth, Phil Bickford in the ninth and part of the tenth and Corey Knebel to get the final out in the tenth. With Joe Kelly (COVID IL), Victor González (10-Day IL), and Jimmy Nelson (60-Day IL) on the shelf, and Kenley Jansen and Blake Treinen likely unavailable, the Dodgers once again found a way to win with their bullpen on Saturday. Knebel only threw seven pitches to get the final out in the 10th. He has been solid since his return from the IL on August 10th, allowing two hits, one walk, four strikeouts, and no runs in that time. Depth is what the Dodgers have and Knebel being expected to close out a tight game in only his third appearance back shows just how deep the Dodgers can go.
•Albert Abreu, NYY |Roster Resource
The Yankees had a day off on Friday and a rested bullpen going into Saturday’s game against the White Sox. Prior to the game, manager Aaron Boone seemed to put more confidence into Chad Green than anyone else while it was also reported that Zack Britton asked Boone to leave him out of closer responsibilities for now. When it came time to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday, Chad Green was the man for the job. He was brought in to face Andrew Vaughn in the eighth but gave up a single to the righty before striking out Zack Collins. When he came back out for the ninth, things were going his way as he recorded the first two outs only to give up a solo home run to José Abreu, putting the game into extra innings. The Yankees put up three runs in the top of the tenth and had another save opportunity in the bottom of the frame which went to (guess who??) Britton. Britton quickly got the first out on a pop-fly but then proceeded to load the bases with a walk, a single, and another walk. Abreu then shut the door, recording the final two outs on 10 pitches.
In the month of August, the Yankees have recorded 6 blown saves. As the Yankees fight for a wildcard spot and seem to play a close game nearly every night, the bullpen could benefit from a little more stability. It was reported that closer Aroldis Chapman could return soon and should find himself right back in the closer role. Until he returns, Jonathan Loaisiga and Chad Green should continue to see opportunities to close out games.
Committee Clarity
•Anthony Bender, MIA | Roster Resource
The three-man closer committee in Miami used Bass in the seventh, Floro in the eighth, and Bender in a ninth-inning save situation on Saturday. While Bass threw a clean seventh inning with two strikeouts, Floro struggled to get the final out in the eighth when he was called upon after Richard Bleier recorded the first two. Entering with two outs and a runner on first, Floro gave up a single and a walk to load the bases and then gave up a three-run (two earned) double. He was able to get the final out on a strikeout but did not exude confidence in the outing. Thanks to the Marlins offense re-taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth, Bender came into the ninth and recorded the save with a clean, two strikeout inning. Floro has allowed four earned runs in his last four outings while Bender has allowed two earned runs in his last four outings. It’s likely that this committee will continue to play matchups as no one reliever has really come out to claim the role.
Losing a Grip
•None
Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.