Bullpen Report: August 19, 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

•Mark Melancon, ATL: 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

With an off day on Thursday, it’s possible that the Braves let Melancon pitch again on Wednesday. It’s more likely, however, that Will Smith or Shane Greene would be the leading candidates for a save chance.

•Cole Sulser, BAL: 30 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Sulser pitched the day after throwing 28 pitches in a game last week, so it’s possible that he’s available on Wednesday. If not, Miguel Castro and Mychal Givens would be the leading candidates for a save chance.

•Taylor Rogers, MIN: 3 of last 4 days; 22 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Sergio Romo is the leading candidate for a save chance on Wednesday.

•Anthony Bass, TOR: Back-to-back days; 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Jordan Romano is the leading candidate for a save chance on Wednesday.

•Daniel Hudson, WSN: 3 consecutive days; 16 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Tanner Rainey is the leading candidate for a save chance on Wednesday.

 

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Cal Quantrill, SDP | RosterResource

With the Padres leading 6-4 and the Rangers’ top of the order coming up in the bottom of the seventh, manager Jayce Tingler wasn’t going to wait until the ninth inning to use closer Drew Pomeranz. The lefty retired the side in order and then struck out Joey Gallo to start the eighth. Emilio Pagan got the next four outs before running out of gas with two runners on and two outs in the ninth. Quantrill and lefty Matt Strahm were both ready to go, but with the right-handed hitting Todd Frazier coming up, it was the right-hander who got the call. When Frazier flied out to end the game, Quantrill had his first career save.

 

Committee Clarity

•Rowan Wick, CHC | RosterResource

Wick continues to be manager David Ross‘ most trusted reliever. The 27-year-old picked up his fourth save when he recorded the final four outs (3 K) of the Cubs’ 6-3 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday. Craig Kimbrel has not pitched in the any of the first three games of the series. They’ll close it out on Wednesday with another double-header.

•Yency Almonte, COL | RosterResource

Daniel Bard pitched the ninth inning of a scoreless tie. After the Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10th, Almonte blew the save chance when a sacrifice fly scored the runner who began the inning at second base. Jairo Diaz took over in the 11th with the game tied at one. A sacrifice bunt and RBI single ended the game.

Under regular circumstances, Bard and Carlos Estevez seem to be the leading candidates for a save chance. Estevez, who was hit by a comebacker in Monday’s game, could be available as soon as Wednesday. He had X-rays on Tuesday, which were negative.

•Edwin Diaz, NYM | RosterResource

No save situation yet for Diaz, although he did pitch the ninth inning with his team ahead by six runs over the Marlins on Tuesday. The results were mixed and he likely didn’t do himself any favors. He allowed hits to the first three batters of the inning, cutting the lead to 8-3. The next three batters, however, all struck out swinging.

That’s the first run that Diaz has allowed in his last seven innings of work. He has 15 strikeouts over that span with only one walk.

•Chaz Roe, TBR | RosterResource

Of course, the guy who pitched the ninth inning on Tuesday had only two saves in 149 career appearances with the Rays. Like Oliver Drake’s two saves earlier in the season, this one came with his team ahead by three runs. If holds and strikeouts are valuable to you, the good news is that Nick Anderson (hold, 2 K), Diego Castillo (hold, K), and Pete Fairbanks (hold, 2 K) each contributed to those categories on Tuesday.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Reliever On The Rise

•Cal Quantrill, SDP | RosterResource

After starter Joey Lucchesi was optioned to the alternate site earlier this month, Quantrill appeared to have a golden opportunity to lock down the No. 5 spot in the rotation. The Padres went with a bullpen game for Lucchesi’s next turn, although Quantrill pitched three shutout innings in relief. He started five days later, allowing just one earned run while pitching into the fourth inning. Three days later, he was available out of the bullpen for Tuesday’s game against the Rangers. He retired the only batter he faced, but earned the first save by a Quantrill since his father, Paul, picked up the 21st and final save of his career back in 2004.

It might just be me overreacting to the save — Pagan was down to the final out before he was removed after allowing a single and walk — but the 25-year-old could end up playing a big role in the Padres’ bullpen in 2020 and beyond. Kirby Yates is likely done for the season. Pagan and Craig Stammen have been unreliable. And with Adrian Morejon’s three shutout innings to start Tuesday’s game, as well as the potential promotion of top prospect MacKenzie Gore, Quantrill could be most useful in a high-leverage bullpen role as opposed to occasional starter and long reliever.

The Padres need someone in their bullpen to step up. Seems to me that Quantrill could be that guy. In six career relief appearances that lasted two innings or less, Quantrill has allowed just one run in 7.1 innings. Armed with a mid-nineties fastball, slider, and changeup, he has the ability to be effective against both right-handed and left-handed batters.

Cal Quantrill, 96mph Dart. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/vlqCXYI5b4

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 16, 2020

The tight gyrospin on this Cal Quantrill slider produced just 2.4" of horizontal movement. The spin vector stayed close to the angle of release but the velocity allowed a minimal amount of sidespin (more drop, more h-break). pic.twitter.com/JQguh43SqN

— Michael Augustine (@AugustineMLB) July 28, 2019

Cal Quantrill, Nasty 85mph Changeup. 🤧

Dickerson's "f me" was a nice touch. pic.twitter.com/WzdjiTlV2O

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 28, 2019