Bullpen Report: August 27, 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

•None

 

Injury News

•Jalen Beeks, TBR: Placed on 45-Day IL with a sprained elbow. | RosterResource

The bad news is that Beeks is out for the season. There is possible good news, however, as manager Kevin Cash expressed optimism that Nick Anderson and Chaz Roe could be activated from the Injured List as early as Sunday.

•Sean Doolittle, WSN: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

Doolittle had struggled in five appearances (3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 HR) before he was placed on the injured list with knee inflammation. The 33-year-old will give the Nats a huge boost if he can get back on track.

 

Outlier Saves

•Jeff Hoffman, COL| RosterResource

On a day when Daniel Bard and Carlos Estévez were likely unavailable after each pitched on the previous two days, a trio of Rockies’ relievers — Yency Almonte, Tyler Kinley, and Jairo Díaz — turned an 8-1 blowout over the Diamondbacks after seven-and-a-half innings into an 8-7 nail biter with two men on and two outs in the ninth.

To the rescue came Hoffman, former top prospect turned mop-up reliever. After walking Eduardo Escobar to load the bases, the 27-year-old right-hander struck out Nick Ahmed on three straight fastballs to earn his first career MLB save. On Tuesday, Ahmed struck out on three consecutive sliders from Bard to end the game with the bases loaded.

 

Committee Clarity

•Buck Farmer, DET| RosterResource

With Joe Jiménez demoted from the closer’s role, manager Ron Gardenhire set up Farmer to pitch the ninth inning on Wednesday after using three others expected to be a part of the closer committee — José Cisnero, Bryan Garcia, and Gregory Soto — in the seventh and eighth. It didn’t end up as a save situation, but pitching with a four-run lead against the Cubs was still a good spot for Farmer to make a good impression. He did not make a good impression, allowing four consecutive hits to start the inning before settling down and retiring the next three batters to barely eke out a 7-6 win. In all likelihood, someone other than Farmer will get the team’s next save chance.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM | RosterResource

Diaz once again appeared to have a stronghold on the Mets’ closer role after allowing just one run over his last 8.1 innings with two walks and 19 strikeouts. But getting him a lead in the ninth inning could still be a problem as evidenced by Wednesday’s game. Pitching with a 4-1 lead versus the Marlins in the eighth inning, Justin Wilson loaded the bases on three singles and was removed with one out. Diaz struck out the first batter he faced for the second out, but could not shut down the rally. He allowed an RBI single and walked another run home before he was taken out due to leg cramps.

Brad Brach replaced Diaz and walked the tying run home. He did, however, get the win after the Mets took the lead in the top of the ninth and he pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth.

The Mets’ bullpen doesn’t have many reliable options, but their closer situation is probably a committee with Diaz still the primary option.

•Diego Castillo, TBR | RosterResource

Castillo picked up his first save of 2019 in his second appearance and ended up with the second most saves (8) on the team behind Emilio Pagán (20). In 2020, he finally got his first save in his 13th appearance on Wednesday. The hard-throwing 26-year-old pitched a perfect ninth (2 K) in a 4-3 win over the Orioles. Remarkably, nine Rays’ pitchers earned saves before him.

 

Losing A Grip

•Joe Jiménez, DET| RosterResource

Jimenez lost his closer’s job after two really bad outings (o.2 IP, 7 ER, 4 H, 3 BB) that weren’t even save situations. That’s almost as bad as losing your job on your day off!

Tigers will play matchups and situations with bullpen going forward, at least until Joe Jimenez gets everything ironed out, Ron Gardenhire said.

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) August 27, 2020

As mentioned above, Cisnero, Farmer, Garcia, and Soto will likely form the committee. Farmer possibly had the best chance to separate himself, but that’s probably no longer the case after Wednesday’s ugly outing.

 

Reliever On The Rise

•None