Bullpen Report: August 26, 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

•Daniel Bard, COL: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 32 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Carlos Estévez has also pitched back-to-back days, but only threw 12 pitches on Tuesday. Estevez, Jairo Díaz, and  Tyler Kinley are the likely save candidates on Wednesday.

•Brandon Kintzler, MIA: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 19 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

With both Kintzler and Brad Boxberger pitching four of five days, the Marlins could turn to Richard Bleier, James Hoyt, or Nick Vincent for a save chance on Wednesday.

 

Injury News

•Keone Kela, PIT: Available to pitch on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Unavailable since leaving Friday’s game due to forearm soreness, Kela could’ve pitched on Tuesday if needed, according to manager Derek Shelton.

https://twitter.com/RobBiertempfel/status/1298382166511034376

•Jalen Beeks, TBR: Left Tuesday’s game with arm injury. | RosterResource

Two outs away from his second save, Beeks was removed with an arm injury. If he lands on the Injured List — early reports don’t sound good — he’d join six other Rays’ relievers who all figured to play a key role in the 2020 season.

#Rays won’t know for sure on Beeks until he is seen by doctor and has imaging done but some team people are concerned it could be similar situation to Kittredge, who tore UCL

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 26, 2020

 

Outlier Saves

•Nick Vincent, MIA | RosterResource

Manager Don Mattingly wanted to make sure his team locked down a win in game one of Tuesday’s double-header, going with his three best relievers — Bleier to Boxberger to Kintzler — to record the final seven outs with a four-run lead. That left Vincent to close out the 3-0 win in game two and pick up his second save of the season.

•Edgar García, TBR | RosterResource

Garcia didn’t make a great first impression with Tampa Bay on Monday when he walked two of the three batters he faced. He got a chance to redeem himself on Tuesday, though, once Beeks was removed because of injury. With one out and the tying run at the plate versus the Orioles, the 23-year-old Garcia struck out Ryan Mountcastle and retired Mason Williams on a ground out to end the game.

Tampa Bay is a nice landing spot for Garcia, who was designated for assignment and traded by the Phillies, the team with the worst bullpen in baseball. He now becomes the ninth different Rays’ pitcher to earn a save in 2020. I wouldn’t expect it to become a regular occurrence, but I also wouldn’t rule anything out with this team.

 

Committee Clarity

•Daniel Bard, COL | RosterResource

Even though it was quite an adventure, Bard picked up his second save in as many days to close out a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks. Diaz, Estevez, and Kinley covered the sixth through eighth innings, so manager Bud Black had every intention of going back to the 35-year-old Bard in a save situation.

After a leadoff walk, Bard retired the next two batters. But an RBI single, hit by pitch, and another walk loaded the bases for Nick Ahmed. Bard struck him out on three consecutive sliders to close it out.

https://twitter.com/RoxGifsVids/status/1298494915748528128

 

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Reliever On The Rise

•None