Bullpen Report: August 24, 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

•Trevor Rosenthal, KCR: 26 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

If Monday’s game at St. Louis is important enough, Rosenthal will likely be available. After all, his last two outings came after three days of rest so he hasn’t been overworked. But since the 30-year-old is expected to be one of the most coveted relievers prior to the August 31 trade deadline, the Royals will probably play it safe and not push him. Josh Staumont is a likely candidate for a save chance if Rosenthal is not available.

•Liam Hendriks, OAK: 4 of last 5 days; 11 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Hendriks had an easy outing after an off day on Saturday. He should be available on Monday, but the A’s will likely try to avoid using him for a fifth time in six days. Joakim Soria could get a save chance.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Tanner Scott, BAL | RosterResource

Mychal Givens was one out away from his first save of 2020, but Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called on the lefty Scott to face Jackie Bradley Jr. with a runner on and his team winning 5-2. The strategy backfired as Bradley hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to 5-4. After a single to Jonathan Arauz, Scott got Kevin Pillar to ground out to end the game.

It was an ugly way to pick up his first career save, but the 26-year-old Scott has been very good this season (11 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 14 K) after finishing strong in 2019.

 

Committee Clarity

•Jeremy Jeffress, CHC | RosterResource

Following the team’s five-game series versus the Cardinals, the pecking order of the closer committee appeared to be Rowan Wick slightly ahead of Craig Kimbrel, and Jeffress the third option. But Wick’s next appearance came with his team trailing the White Sox 3-2 in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game. He allowed two earned runs to put the game out of reach. It’s not surprising that a non-save situation for a guy who has earned the closer’s job didn’t go so well.

Kimbrel’s next appearance came on Sunday with his team ahead 2-1 in the eighth inning. After striking out the first two batters, he walked the next two. Jeffress came in to record the final out, keeping the lead intact. After retiring the first two batters in the ninth, he allowed a single and two walks before a Yoan Moncada groundout ended the game. It was Jeffress’ third save.

The assessment of an actual pecking order was premature — there is not really any separation between the three relievers — but it’s also a reminder that manager David Ross still doesn’t entirely trust Kimbrel and Wick didn’t do himself any favors by pitching poorly in a non-save situation. If there’s a save chance on Monday, it will likely be one of those two since Jeffress threw 31 pitches on Sunday.

•John Curtiss, TBR | RosterResource

If you’re keeping track at home, the Rays have 11 saves by eight different pitchers in 2020. Curtiss is the latest after recording the last five outs in a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays. The 27-year-old’s first career MLB save could be an outlier, but I think it’s quite obvious by now that the Rays don’t really take “who will pitch the last inning” into account whenever they make any pitching changes. Whoever is the best matchup of the pitchers remaining is who gets the save situation.

 

Losing A Grip

•Joe Jimenez, DET | RosterResource

Jimenez has hit a rough patch after a strong start to the season when he picked a save in four of the team’s first six games. His last appearance prior to Sunday came in the eighth inning of Thursday’s game with the Tigers trailing 5-0 — he was just getting in some work after three days off — so he could almost get a pass for how bad he was (0.1 IP, 4 ER) considering that the game is normally on the line in a majority of his outings.

On Sunday, he was brought in to pitch the ninth inning with his team ahead 7-1 versus the Indians. Again, not a high-leverage situation. But getting the final three outs of a Tigers’ win should be enough to get the juices flowing. It was not. He walked the first two batters of the inning. One batter later, he gave up a three-run homer to Greg Allen. Jimenez was removed for Jose Cisnero, who came in to record the final two outs.

Since neither one of Jimenez’s poor outings had an effect on the game’s outcome, he could remain in the role at least until he gets another save opportunity. If that’s the case, he has no more room for error before manager Ron Gardenhire turns to a committee that would likely include Buck Farmer, Gregory Soto, Cisnero, and Bryan Garcia.

 

Reliever On The Rise

•None