Bullpen Report: August 26, 2023

The 2023 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

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.

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).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: 25 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Bryan Abreu and Hector Neris should both be available on Saturday.

•Andrés Muñoz, SEA: 26 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Matt Brash threw 28 pitches Friday, so he could be down as well. That leaves Justin Topa and Gabe Speier as the likeliest closers.

•David Bednar, PIT: 21 pitches on Friday; 8 pitches on Thursday; 12 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Bednar was the only Pirates reliever used Friday, so Derek Shelton will have his pick of closers on Saturday if Bednar’s unavailable. Colin Holderman, Thomas Hatch, and Ryan Borucki are the best bets.

Injury News

•Félix Bautista, BAL: Left Friday’s game with arm discomfort. | RosterResource

It goes without saying that this is horrible news for the Orioles, as having arguably the best closer in baseball out for any period of time would be a major blow to Baltimore’s hopes of locking down a division title and making it deep into the playoffs. Bautista’s last pitch was over 102 mph, but he spun off the mound in frustration and didn’t even throw a warmup pitch before being removed from the game.

Bautista’s going for more imaging, at which point we’ll know more. If he’s out, the Orioles could go closer-by-committee with Yennier Cano, Shintaro Fujinami, and Danny Coulombe the leading options.

Outlier Saves

•Danny Coulombe, BAL | RosterResource

After Bautista left with his injury, Coulombe inherited a 2-2 count on Michael Toglia, and needed just one pitch to get him to chase a breaking ball in the dirt for strike three, sealing a comeback win for the O’s, fresh off the IL. He’ll be a key member of the Orioles’ bullpen down the stretch whether Bautista misses time or not; he’s got a 2.75 ERA in 48 appearances.

•Kevin Ginkel, ARI | RosterResource

Arizona had a rather sudden need for a closer when Justin Martinez gave up a grand slam to Will Benson with one out in the ninth, so Ginkel stepped in to get the last two outs. The dramatics stopped with Benson’s homer, as Ginkel retired the first two hitters faced on strikeouts to stop the bleeding and end the game for his fourth save of the year. Paul Sewald should be available Saturday after 28 pitches Thursday.

•Hunter Harvey, WSN | RosterResource

Kyle Finnegan put in a Herculean effort on Thursday, throwing 31 pitches to pick up a four-out save against the Yankees. That understandably left him unavailable on Friday, so Harvey stepped in. The Marlins worked him for 21 pitches in four batters, but he ultimately didn’t give up a run and held the three-run lead for his tenth save of the year. Finnegan might need another day off, but Harvey has thrown 34 pitches in the last two games, which could leave Jordan Weems as closer.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None