Bullpen Report: August 18, 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

•Gregory Soto, DET: 30 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

José Cisnero and Michael Fulmer are the best bets to fill in on Wednesday.

•Jake Brentz, KCR: Three straight days; 20 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Scott Barlow would probably close on Wednesday.

•Jonathan Loaisiga, NYY: 34 pitches on Tuesday. Chad Green, NYY: 14 pitches on Tuesday; 17 pitches on Monday.
| RosterResource

Loaisiga and Green could both be down on Wednesday, which leaves Zack Britton and Albert Abreu as the likeliest closers.

•Kenley Jansen, LAD: 24 pitches on Tuesday; 11 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Blake Treinen has also pitched back-to-back days, but on just 16 pitches total. If he’s not available either, Corey Knebel, Alex Vesia or Phil Bickford could close.

 

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Dominic Leone, SFG | RosterResource

Giants co-closers Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers both pitched Monday, Sunday, and Friday, and it was pretty clear they weren’t available on Tuesday. And so, the Giants turned to Tony Watson, Jarlin García and Leone to record the last five outs after a strong start from Logan Webb, with Leone recording a three-pitch strikeout of the only batter he faced to earn the save. It was his first save of the year.

Committee Clarity

•Jake Brentz, KCR | RosterResource

When Greg Holland was placed on the IL on Monday, it looked as if Scott Barlow would be the sole closer for the Royals. But Tuesday showed that wasn’t necessarily the case. Barlow probably would’ve been available on Tuesday even after pitching both Sunday and Monday (Brentz did the same), but Brentz was the choice to close. The fireballing lefty didn’t have his best command, throwing just nine of 20 pitches for strikes, but he kept the Astros off the board to seal the win.

Barlow is probably still the top choice to close, but Brentz is a very strong co-closer. Josh Staumont could factor in as well.

•Codi Heuer, CHC | RosterResource

We’ve been waiting a long time for a Cubs win so we could finally give an update on their closing situation, and Chicago held on for a 2-1 win on Tuesday after 12 straight losses. Heuer, acquired along with Nick Madrigal for Craig Kimbrel at the trade deadline, pitched two perfect innings on just 17 pitches to earn his first save as a Cub. Heuer’s been much better for the North Siders than he was on the South Side in 2021, allowing just two earned runs (four total) in ten innings after pitching to a 5.12 ERA for the White Sox.

Heuer may well be the top option for saves, but Rowan Wick and Adam Morgan—both of whom helped hold the one-run lead on Tuesday—are also possibilities, and so too is Manuel Rodriguez. Regardless, it doesn’t look as if there’ll be many Cubs save opportunities to go around for the rest of the season anyway.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.