Bullpen Report: August 3, 2021

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five 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.

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

•Brad Boxberger, MIL: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 13 pitches on Monday. |  RosterResource

Devin Williams is a likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday, especially if Boxberger isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•Josh Hader, MIL: Placed on 10-Day IL (COVID-19). | RosterResource

The 27-year-old lefty will be out a minimum of ten days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Josh Hader’s case of COVID-19 came about as a result of today’s intake screening. He reported close contact with an individual experiencing COVID-like symptoms, which triggered a test. Came up positive. He will be out at least 10 days.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 2, 2021

Devin Williams is the leading candidate for save chances while Hader is out, while Brad Boxberger will also be in the mix.

With the Brewers leading 6-0 in the ninth inning of Monday’s game, it appeared as though both of their top closing options would get a day off each after pitching on Sunday. But John Axford, acquired from the Blue Jays and added to the roster earlier in the day, had a disastrous return to the team with who he began his career with and compiled 106 saves.

A hit-by-pitch, a pair of singles, and a bases loaded walk put the game in a save situation with the tying run on deck. Axford might’ve been removed in any case, but he left the game with an elbow injury in favor of Boxberger, who closed things out for his fourth save.

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE | RosterResource

After James Karinchak allowed nine earned runs in his final 8 1/3 innings of July with five walks and only six strikeouts, it was expected that Clase would begin to get the bigger share of save chances. On Monday, Karinchak pitched the seventh inning with the game tied at two and Clase entered the game after his team took a 5-2 lead over the Blue Jays in the tenth inning. He retired the side on 10 pitches to pick up his 14th save in 18 chances.

While Clase had some struggles of his own last month, allowing five earned runs and seven hits in 1 1/3 innings over three outings from July 5 through July 16, he’s now pitched 7 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings while Karinchak’s decline (2.52 ERA, 15.6 K/9 in 1st Half; 7.1 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, 6 BB, 3 K in 2nd Half) has to be a concern for Cleveland.

•Dylan Floro, Anthony Bender, Anthony Bass, MIA | RosterResource

The Marlins’ first 9th inning save chance since the trade of closer Yimi García went to Floro, which wasn’t a big surprise considering he’s been their most trusted late-inning reliever. The 30-year-old right-hander entered the game with his team leading the Mets 5-3 with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. He recorded the final out to end the rally before pitching a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save.

Floro should continue to be the leading candidate for save chances, although giving Bender an occasional opportunity makes sense as they’ll have to decide over the offseason if either is capable of being the team’s closer in 2022.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.