Bullpen Report: August 25, 2020 by Jason Martinez August 25, 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. 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. Injury News Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat. 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 •Brandon Kintzler, MIA: 3 of last 4 days; 16 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource With a double-header on Tuesday against the Mets, it’s likely that Kintzler will be available for one of the two games. Brad Boxberger and Richard Bleier could be save candidates for the other game. •Taylor Rogers, MIN: Back-to-back days; 11 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource Rogers and Sergio Romo have each worked in back-to-back games and probably ready to go if need for a third straight. If neither is available on Tuesday, the Twins could turn to Tyler Duffey in a save situation. •Rafael Montero, TEX: 31 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource Jonathan Hernández also had a high pitch count (25) on Monday after pitching on Sunday, so Joely Rodríguez and Luis Garcia are the likely candidates for a save chance on Tuesday. Injury News •None Outlier Saves •None Committee Clarity •Daniel Bard, COL | RosterResource The Rockies had lost seven straight games since manager Bud Black said he would be using a closer committee. On Monday, he finally had a chance to choose a closer with his team leading 3-2 in the ninth inning. It was Bard who got the call following 1.1 scoreless innings from Carlos Estévez. The 35-year-old Bard was impressive, sitting the Diamondbacks down in order on 12 pitches. He struck out Stephen Vogt to end the game, getting him to chase a curveball after throwing a 99 MPH fastball on the previous pitch. Bard and Estevez have separated themselves as the most reliable relievers on the team. After Monday, the odds likely increased that Bard will eventually become the team’s primary closer. Losing A Grip •None Reliever On The Rise •Kyle Finnegan, WSN | RosterResource For Finnegan to reach free agency after six years in the minors, the Oakland A’s had to leave him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft for three consecutive seasons (2016-18) and then one last time, after the 2019 season, choose not to add him to the 40-man roster. The Nationals, however, valued Finnegan enough to offer him a major league contract this past December — or maybe they had to offer it to him because of heavy interest around the league — which is rare for a player without one day of MLB service time. Thus far, it’s proven to be a smart move. After a scoreless outing on Monday, Finnegan has 10.1 scoreless innings to begin his big league career. Most of his work has come in low-leverage situations, although he relieved Max Scherzer in the fifth inning of Saturday’s game with a one-run lead, bases loaded, two outs, and four runs in. He struck out Jorge Alfaro looking on the sixth consecutive fastball of the at-bat. The 28-year-old right-hander has been getting the job done, mostly on the strength of that that mid-nineties fastball and a wicked slider. Kyle Finnegan, Wicked 88mph Slider (release/spin axis/slow) pic.twitter.com/hHxzQDZVHC — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 22, 2020 Not Very Stable Hot Seat Committee Bullpen Report — 8/24/2020 Team Closer First Up Second Up Injured List ARI Archie Bradley Junior Guerra Stefan Crichton Andrew Chafin ATL Mark Melancon Will Smith Shane Greene BAL Cole Sulser Miguel Castro Mychal Givens Hunter Harvey BOS Matt Barnes Austin Brice Josh Taylor CHC Rowan Wick Craig Kimbrel Jeremy Jeffress CWS Alex Colome Evan Marshall Jimmy Cordero Aaron Bummer CIN Raisel Iglesias Amir Garrett Lucas Sims CLE Brad Hand James Karinchak Nick Wittgren COL Daniel Bard Carlos Estevez Jairo Diaz Wade Davis DET Joe Jimenez Buck Farmer Gregory Soto HOU Ryan Pressly Blake Taylor Andre Scrubb Roberto Osuna KC Trevor Rosenthal Josh Staumont Scott Barlow LAA Ty Buttrey Felix Peña Keynan Middleton LAD Kenley Jansen Blake Treinen Caleb Ferguson Pedro Baez MIA Brandon Kintzler Brad Boxberger Richard Bleier MIL Josh Hader David Phelps Devin Williams MIN Taylor Rogers Sergio Romo Trevor May NYM Edwin Diaz Dellin Betances Justin Wilson NYY Aroldis Chapman Adam Ottavino Chad Green Zack Britton OAK Liam Hendriks Joakim Soria Jake Diekman PHI Brandon Workman Adam Morgan Tommy Hunter David Robertson PIT Keone Kela Richard Rodriguez Chris Stratton STL Giovanny Gallegos Andrew Miller Alex Reyes Ryan Helsley SD Emilio Pagan Matt Strahm Cal Quantrill Drew Pomeranz SF Tony Watson Tyler Rogers Jarlin Garcia Reyes Moronta SEA Taylor Williams Dan Altavilla Matt Magill Austin Adams TB Jalen Beeks Diego Castillo Pete Fairbanks Nick Anderson TEX Rafael Montero Jonathan Hernandez Joely Rodriguez Jose LeClerc TOR Anthony Bass Jordan Romano Rafael Dolis Ken Giles WSH Daniel Hudson Tanner Rainey Will Harris