Bullpen Report: August 22, 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

•Raisel Iglesias, CIN: Back-to-back days; 9 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Iglesias went nine days without an appearance before pitching on Thursday and Friday. It’s not certain whether that helps or hurts his case of pitching again on Saturday. If he’s not available, the Reds have several options who could get a save chance, including Amir Garrett and Nate Jones.

•Liam Hendriks, OAK: 3 consecutive days; 14 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Joakim Soria is probably the leading candidate for a save chance on Saturday.

•Emilio Pagan, SDP: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 21 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

The Padres’ bullpen doesn’t have many fresh arms, but it’s likely that someone other than Pagan gets a save chance on Saturday. Matt Strahm and Craig Stammen are probably the leading candidates.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 17 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Anthony Bass is probably the leading candidate for a save chance on Saturday.

 

Trade

•Brandon Workman: Traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies. | RosterResource

The Phillies acquired Workman and Heath Hembree on Friday evening in an attempt to bolster one of the worst bullpens in baseball. The 32-year-old Workman, who has saved 20 games for the Red Sox since last May, will likely take over closer duties from Hector Neris in Philadelphia.

Matt Barnes is the new closer for the Red Sox, stepping in after several seasons as the team’s primary setup man. On Friday, the 30-year-old pitched a scoreless ninth to close out an 8-5 win over the Orioles for his first save of 2020.

 

Injury News

•Josh James, HOU: Day-to-day with hip discomfort. | RosterResource

After leaving Thursday’s game with the injury, James went back to Houston to get checked out and is expected to land on the 10-Day IL.

•Keone Kela, PIT: Day-to-day with forearm tightness. | RosterResource

Kela threw only five pitches on Friday before he was removed from the game due to forearm tightness. Even if manager Derek Shelton was being overly cautious by removing him, it’s not likely that they’ll force him back into action any time soon.

•Drew Pomeranz, SDP: Placed on 10-Day IL with a strained shoulder. | RosterResource

Pomeranz has been injury prone throughout his career, so the Padres might just be playing it safe with their $34 million free agent investment. Until he returns, Pagan is expected to be the team’s primary closer. They have a long list of secondary options, including Cal Quantrill and Strahm.

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Taylor Williams, SEA | RosterResource

With five of the team’s seven saves, including a perfect ninth inning in Friday’s 7-4 win over the Rangers, it’s probably time to call Williams the closer for the Seattle Mariners and not part of any committee. This isn’t certain, of course, but manager Scott Servais clearly favors the 29-year-old in save situations.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Reliever On The Rise

•Jorge Alcala, MIN | RosterResource

If you were surprised that the Twins would trade away Brusdar Graterol for Kenta Maeda, you’re not alone. I didn’t think it was a terrible trade. Maeda is a good starting pitcher who would definitely help the Twins in 2020. But I thought Graterol could be an absolutely dominant reliever very soon. And I haven’t changed my mind on that, even though he’s not quite there yet. What is different aside from Maeda being even better than anticipated is that Graterol wasn’t the only Twins’ pitching prospect who could be an absolutely dominant reliever very soon.

Although the 25-year-old Alcala has been used mostly in a long-relief role thus far, he’s making a strong case to move up the ladder. Five of his six appearances have lasted at least two innings with no earned runs allowed. Over 12 innings of work, he’s allowed just two earned runs while strikeout 15.

In his latest outing on Friday, he pitched one-hit ball over three shutout innings while striking out six.

Jorge Alcala brought his best stuff out of the 'pen tonight for the @Twins. pic.twitter.com/H2uetZGADB

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 22, 2020