Bullpen Report: August 2, 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. 1. 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.

1. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.
2. 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

•Taylor Rogers, MIN: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 13 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Rogers has thrown just 18 pitches over the past two days, so he’s very likely available on Sunday. But pitching back-to-back days does increase the likelihood, at least slightly, that Sergio Romo could get a save chance.

 

Injury News

•Roberto Osuna, HOU: Left Saturday’s game with arm discomfort; will undergo an MRI. |  RosterResource

On to protect a 4-3 lead over the Angels in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game, Osuna retired Albert Pujols on a grounder and allowed an infield single to Luis Rengifo before exiting the game with what is being described as “arm discomfort”.

The good news is that Ryan Pressly finally pitched his first game of the season, although he allowed a run on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. His elbow discomfort is gone, at least for now, while Chris Devenski’s caused him to be placed on the 10-Day IL. The Astros currently have nine rookie relievers in a 10-man bullpen, seven of who came into the season with no MLB experience.

If Osuna misses time, Pressly is the leading candidate for saves as long as he’s healthy. Andre Scrubb, who got a save in Friday’s game, and Cy Sneed are also options.

 

Outlier Saves

•Codi Heuer, CHW | RosterResource

The 24-year-old rookie wasn’t likely intended to pick up a four-out save in his third big league appearance. He was brought in to face Jorge Soler with two outs, nobody on base, and his team leading by three runs in the eighth inning. But after striking out the reigning home run champ on four pitches to end the inning, the White Sox extended their lead by four runs in the top of the ninth. Heuer stayed in the game, allowing one run on three hits before closing out the 11-5 win.

•David Hale 헤일, NYY | RosterResource

After Nick Nelson mowed through the Red Sox lineup without allowing a run or hit in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings of his MLB debut, the Yankees didn’t even bother going to Adam Ottavino in the eighth or Zach Britton in the ninth with the team leading by three runs. Both were likely available if needed — Ottavino threw four pitches on Friday, while Britton did not pitch — so Yankees manager Aaron Boone not even bothering might say more about the state of the Red Sox roster that he had a 32-year-old journeyman pitch the final two innings (0 R, 2 H, BB, 3 K) for the save.

In reality, it was likely a combination of Boone trusting Hale enough against a group of struggling hitters and a chance to rest his best relievers a day after learning that Tommy Kahnle needs Tommy John surgery.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC | RosterResource

While manager David Ross was non-committal about removing Kimbrel from the closer’s role after yet another rough outing on Friday, it was clear that he would not be closing out any win on Saturday. With the team up 2-0, Jeremy Jeffress recorded the final out in the seventh before pitching a perfect eighth. A two-run homer by Kyle Schwarber removed the save opportunity, but some combination of Kyle Ryan and Rowan Wick, the team’s best relievers in 2019, would’ve likely been the option in the ninth inning either way.

Ryan started the inning, allowing a single, two-run homer, and a double before Ross called on Wick to save the day with a runner on and only one out. He allowed an inherited run to score on a grounder and walked the next batter, but was able to close out the 4-3 victory for his first save. A committee of Wick, Jeffress, and Ryan seems like the Cubs’ most logical plan until Kimbrel can figure things out.

•Wade Davis, COL | RosterResource

DNP

•Hansel Robles, LAA | RosterResource

Another day, another closing situation that went from settled to unsettled before even reaching the 10-game mark in the 2020 season. Robles came into Saturday’s game on thin ice after allowing two earned runs in an Opening Day loss and allowing four earned runs in a non-save situation on Thursday. Up 3-1 in the ninth over the Astros, the 29-year-old allowed a solo homer to Josh Reddick and a two-run homer to George Springer for the blown save.

The Angels don’t have an obvious replacement at the moment, although a committee would very likely include Cam Bedrosian, Ty Buttrey, and Keynan Middleton. The sleeper candidate is Felix Peña, who was pitching well in 2019 before a knee injury ended his season in early August. Back to full health, the 30-year-old right-hander has eight strikeouts and no runs allowed in 5.2 innings over three appearances, including the seventh and eighth innings on Saturday to get the lead to Robles.

•Kirby Yates, SDP | RosterResource

DNP

 

Reliever On The Rise

•Cody Stashak, MIN | RosterResource

In a bullpen filled with reliable right-handed relievers, Stashak has gone under the radar since reaching the majors in the second half of 2019. Over 20 big league appearances, he had just one career hold coming into Saturday’s game and that was in a game in which he pitched the sixth inning. But with the Twins leading the Indians by three runs in the eighth inning on Saturday, it was Stashak who got the high-leverage assignment.

After issuing a two-walk to Cesar Hernandez, the 26-year-old right-hander struck out Jose Ramirez to end a scoreless inning. It’s not his second career hold, however, that is most notable. The walk to Hernandez was only the second of his career, giving him a remarkable 15.5 BB/K rate (2 BB, 31 K) over 29 innings.

Although his fastball sits in the low-nineties, Stashak utilizes it very well with an excellent slider and plus command. Here’s that slider in action, striking out Aaron Judge in his MLB debut last July.

 

The strikeout. 😤
The reaction. 😭

What a debut for Cody Stashak! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/5ZEphAZS66

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) July 24, 2019

Over a year later, he continues to make strides as he climbs his way up the Twins’ bullpen ladder.