Bullpen Report: August 17, 2022

The 2022 version of Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Félix Bautista, BAL: 11 pitches on Tuesday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Dillon Tate has also been used in back-to-back days. That leaves Cionel Pérez and Joey Krehbiel as likely candidates for a save opportunity on Wednesday.

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 7 pitches on Tuesday, four of the last five days. | Roster Resource

Hendriks is doing that thing again where he just doesn’t take a day off. But, it makes sense as he hasn’t thrown more than 20 pitches in any of his last four appearances and has converted each for a save. Hendriks is on a hot streak, but if he needs a day off, Kendall Graveman is the most likely to fill in.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 11 pitches on Tuesday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Andrew Chafin is rested and the most likely to get a save opportunity should Soto need a day off.

•Kyle Finnegan, WSN: 15 pitches on Tuesday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Carl Edwards Jr. is also on “High Usage Alert” as he threw 12 pitches on Tuesday and has also thrown back-to-back. Hunter Harvey or possibly Víctor Arano could be up for a save, though Arano threw 13 pitches on Tuesday and was hit with the loss.

•Rowan Wick, CHC: 24 pitches on Tuesday. | Roster Resource

Wick had been making my fantasy team look great after picking him up at the trade deadline, up until last night that is. He was tagged with a blown save after giving up two earned runs on two home runs against the Nationals. He’s likely unavailable going into Wednesday’s game and that leaves Michael Rucker as the most rested and likely to fill in for a save opportunity.

 

Injury News

•Tanner Houck, BOS: IL10, Back | Roster Resource

After working his way into a somewhat steady closer for the Red Sox, Houck’s season could be in jeopardy with a back issue. Prior to the injury, he had recorded seven saves in June, only one in July, and then two in August. He was up and down through his time in the closer role and it’s likely he was trying hard to work through the injury. For now, the news is not promising, but we’ll just have to keep an eye on it. Read more on what’s happening with the Red Sox pen in the committee clarity section below.

Tanner Houck has a disc issue per a specialist. He’ll get a week of treatment back in Boston then they’ll decide what comes next. Doesn’t sound promising.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 16, 2022

•Clay Holmes, NYY: Back  | Roster Resource

Last appearing on August 12th, Holmes has been labeled as day-to-day since. Now, we get some insight as to why the once dominant Yankee reliever could be struggling in the back half of the season. “Might be going on the IL” is far different from actually going on the IL, so fantasy managers will just have to keep a close eye on this situation. If Holmes does need time off, Aroldis Chapman, Scott Effross, and Jonathan Loáisiga could see more save opportunities come their way.

Clay Holmes said his back locked up on him a couple of days ago. Sounds like he’s headed for the IL, though he doesn’t think it’s a long-term situation.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 17, 2022

Outlier Saves

•Dylan Floro, MIA | Roster Resource

Richard Bleier was the reliever who came out in the ninth inning after recording one out in the eighth, but he was given a quick hook after Juan Soto hit a lead-off single to start the ninth. With only a one-run lead, Miami manager Don Mattingly brought in Floro to face Manny Machado, the winning run, with Juan Soto on first. He immediately gave up another single, placing runners on first and second. He then settled down, however, and recorded three strikeouts, two of which were on swinging strikes, to earn the save. Miami has been struggling to establish confidence in a closer role, and while Tanner Scott (unavailable on Tuesday) has been the man for the job most of the season, he’s had an “On the Hot Seat” mark next to his name on our Closer Depth Chart for quite some time now. Can someone instill enough confidence to take the role over? Floro, Steven Okert, and now possibly Cole Sulser are the relievers who might be able to.

•Mark Leiter Jr., CHC | Roster Resource

When the first Cubs reliever out of the pen, Erich Uelmen, gave up a run in the seventh, manager David Ross went to Rowan Wick. Wick came into the game with runners on first and second with one out. Wick gave up another single, loaded the bases, but then forced a double-play ball to get out of the inning. It was when Wick came back out for the eighth that things fell apart. He gave up two solo shot home runs and a double and was tagged with a blown save because of it. This situation tied the game and led to extra innings. Eventually, the Cubs re-took the lead, and Leiter Jr. came out in the bottom of the 11th to record the save. While it seems like enough confidence was given to Wick to come in as a fireman type, he’ll need to have a rebound performance to get that confidence back.

Committee Clarity

•Matt Barnes, BOS | Roster Resource

With Tanner Houck’s back issue possibly keeping him on the IL longer than expected, the Red Sox have been relying on Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber to handle closing duties. But neither reliever has been lockdown and reliable in late innings and it’s likely that manager Alex Cora is spreading the opportunity. Last night, Barnes, the righty, threw to a lefty and two switch hitters, so it’s not as if this were as simple as a matchup’s appearance. Here are some stats for each reliever in the month of August:

So, who has been the better reliever? Schreiber, if you think strikeouts are most important. Barnes, if run prevention is your thing, and Whitlock if balance is what you’re looking for. But, that’s a pretty tough decision to make in such a small time period. Only time will tell how the committee in Boston shapes out, but it’s likely Barnes will get a few more chances to build on. He has recorded two strikeouts in each of his last three appearances and though he has given up two hits in those three appearances, he is moving his swinging-strike rate back in the right direction:

If Barnes’ stuff continues to improve, he may start to become somewhat fantasy relevant again, but he’s not there yet.

 

Losing a Grip

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