Bullpen Report: August 20, 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

•Edwin Diaz, NYM: Back-to-back days; 21 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Dellin Betances is almost certain to be unavailable (back-to-back days) and Seth Lugo will start on Thursday. That leaves Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson as the leading candidates for a save chance if Diaz isn’t able to go three consecutive days.

•Taylor Williams, SEA: 27 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

If Williams isn’t available on Thursday, Dan Altavilla would likely be the leading candidate for a save chance. Joey Gerber and Matt Magill could also be in the mix.

•Rafael Montero, TEX: 42 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Jonathan Hernandez (back-to-back days; 12 pitches on each day) and Joely Rodriguez are the leading candidates for a save chance on Thursday.

 

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Jalen Beeks, TBR | RosterResource

Chaz Roe actually had a chance to pick up his second save in as many days, but he walked Gleyber Torres and Gary Sanchez to start the inning and was replaced by Beeks after Brett Gardner lined out to center field. Beeks, who had pitched at least two innings in four of his eight appearances, struck out both batters he faced on Wednesday to close out the 4-2 win over the Yankees and pick up his second career save. The 27-year-old lefty now has 23 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.

•Rafael Dolis, TOR | RosterResource

With Anthony Bass definitely not available after pitching back-to-back days, including a 29-pitch effort on Tuesday, and Jordan Romano coming off of a 19-pitch outing, it was Dolis who got the call in the ninth with his team up 5-2 over the Orioles. The 32-year-old allowed a bunt single and a walk to make things interesting, but struck out the side in a scoreless inning to pick up his first save since he was with the Cubs in 2012.

 

Committee Clarity

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC | RosterResource

In the fifth and final game of the series versus the Cardinals, Kimbrel finally made his first appearance. And it was in a big spot. With the series tied at two games apiece and the Cubs ahead 4-2 in the final inning, Kimbrel shut the door on St. Louis in what might’ve been his most impressive outing in a Cubs’ uniform. Strike out looking. Strike out swinging. Hit batter. Strike out looking. Game over. First save of 2020.

Kimbrel has not allowed a hit or a run in his last three innings of work. Manager David Ross says he’ll stick with the closer committee for now, but Kimbrel is on his way to reclaiming the job he was signed to do last season.

•Edwin Diaz and Seth Lugo, NYM | RosterResource

With news that Lugo is moving to the starting rotation, Diaz should be the closer moving forward. Whether he holds the job on his own or is part of a committee, I’d expect that he will get a majority of the team’s save chances.

On Wednesday, he was brought in with a one-run lead and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. He walked a run home, resulting in his second blown save of the season, before striking out the next batter to end the threat. After Michael Conforto hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the top of the ninth, Diaz struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning to close out the 5-3 win.

Over his last eight appearances, he’s allowed just one run while walking two and striking out 19 batters over 8.1 innings.

•Taylor Williams, SEA | RosterResource

The 8-18 Mariners aren’t ahead very often. But when they are, it’s Williams who usually gets the final outs of the game. The 29-year-old closed out a 6-4 win over the Dodgers to pick up his fourth save of the season and end the team’s seven-game losing streak.

It was not without drama, though. Williams loaded the bases in the ninth on a single and two walks, but ended things with his third strikeout of the inning. He now has 16 strikeouts in 10 innings.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Reliever On The Rise

•None