Bullpen Report: August 30, 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

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Pitched in both ends of Saturday’s double-header; 19 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

It was an easy day’s work for Pressly, who retired six batters on 19 pitches (4 K) and earned two saves in the double-header sweep of the A’s. That’s great news for the Astros, considering Pressly’s injury concerns early in the season. Still, those injury concerns are a good enough reason to hold him out on Sunday. Blake Taylor would be the leading candidate for a save chance if Pressly is unavailable.

•Josh Hader, MIL: 32 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Between the high pitch count and the five walks, Hader isn’t likely to pitch on Sunday. David Phelps and Devin Williams are candidates for a save chance.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Back-to-back days; 14 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

With a double-header on Sunday, Chapman will likely be available to pitch for a third consecutive day. Adam Ottavino and Chad Green are candidates for a save chance in at least one of the two games.

•Brandon Workman, PHI: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 19 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Héctor Neris has also pitched back-to-back days, but only threw 10 pitches on Saturday. He’s pitched much better as of late, so manager Joe Girardi probably wouldn’t hesitate to use him in a save situation if Workman is unavailable. Blake Parker, who has pitched 7.1 scoreless innings this season, is another option.

 

Trade

•Trevor Rosenthal: Traded from the Kansas City Royals to the San Diego Padres. | RosterResource

On the same day that Drew Pomeranz returned from the Injured List, the Padres acquired Rosenthal from the Royals. Those two, along with Emilio Pagán, could all be in the mix for saves.

Rosenthal, who has a 3.29 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 13.2 innings with seven saves in seven chances, is expected to join the team on Sunday.

 

Injury News

•Kyle Crick, PIT: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

Crick returned just in time for a bullpen meltdown — Nik Turley gave up a one-run lead in the eighth and Richard Rodríguez blew a save in the ninth — that could quickly put him in position for some save chances down the stretch. The 27-year-old missed more than a month after suffering a strained lat in his second appearance of the season.

•Drew Pomeranz, SDP: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

After spending the minimum amount of time on the IL, Pomeranz returned to action with a scoreless inning on Saturday. He has not allowed a run in ten innings this season.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: Placed on 10-Day IL with a strained middle finger. | RosterResource

A best-case scenario could have Romano back for the last two weeks of the season.

Jordan Romano, who’s been great in Jays pen this year, is expected to miss 2 to 4 weeks after suffering middle finger numbness

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 29, 2020

 

Outlier Saves

•Jesse Hahn, KCR | RosterResource

After Ian Kennedy turned a 9-3 game into a 9-6 game in the ninth inning in Saturday’s game versus the White Sox, Hahn struck out Yasmani Grandal and José Abreu to end the game and pick up his first career MLB save. According to manager Mike Matheny, the 31-year-old Hahn could get more save chances now that Rosenthal has been traded. So maybe this isn’t an outlier, although there are several other options who would appear to be ahead of him.

Matheny mentioned Greg Holland, but he could also be traded by Monday’s deadline. If he goes with his best relievers to close games, Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont would be the top candidates.

I asked Mike Matheny postgame who is new closer would be. He hinted at Greg Holland, who obviously has the experience. He also brought up Jesse Hahn as someone who might get an opportunity. And, of course, Josh Staumont and Scott Barlow would be in that conversation.

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) August 29, 2020

 

Committee Clarity

•Daniel Bard and Carlos Estévez, COL | RosterResource

With the Rockies leading 3-0 in the eighth inning over the Padres, it was Estevez who got the call with Bard getting ready for his third consecutive save chance in the ninth. But Estevez failed to hold the lead, allowing the Padres to tie it at three. Bard had to settle for a win after he pitched a scoreless ninth and the Rockies walked it off in the bottom half of the inning.

It’s clear that manager Bud Black favors Bard as his primary closer option and Estevez’s poor outing should only reinforce that.

•Gregory Soto, DET | RosterResource

In the team’s first save chance since Joe Jiménez was removed from the closer’s role, Soto pitched a scoreless seventh to close out a 4-2 win over the Twins and complete a double-header sweep.

After starting the season with 10.1 scoreless innings, the 25-year-old Soto allowed six earned runs over his next two appearances. But he’s bounced back nicely with five consecutive scoreless innings and now gets his first career MLB save.

•Tyler Rogers, SFG | RosterResource

Since Trevor Gott was removed from the closer’s role on August 17, the Giants had not had a save chance despite winning the next seven games in a row. It finally came on Saturday, though, and it was Rogers who got the call. The 29-year-old pitched a scoreless ninth to close out a 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks and pick up his second save.

 

Losing A Grip

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC | RosterResource

Over his last five appearances, Kimbrel did not allow a run or a hit. He walked four while striking out 11. Even if the closer committee was still in place, it appeared that he was well on his way to earning his job back. But after Saturday’s disaster, it could be a while before the 32-year-old gets another save chance.

After Jeremy Jeffress picked up the save in a 3-0 win in game one, Kimbrel had a chance to close out game two. With a 5-4 lead in the seventh, Kimbrel walked the leadoff man. He followed with a strikeout, but it got ugly after that. Another walk and a single loaded the bases. A wild pitch tied the game. An intentional walk re-loaded the bases for Mike Moustakas, who struck out on three pitches. But Kimbrel uncorked his third wild pitch of the inning to the next batter, this one resulting in a walk-off loss.

You just love to see it! pic.twitter.com/gw41LBw85r

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 30, 2020

•Josh Hader, MIL | RosterResource

How does one go from pitching no-hit ball over his first 9.1 innings of the season to the “Losing A Grip” section of the Bullpen Report? By throwing only nine of 32 pitches for strikes and walking five of six batters faced during Saturday’s blown save, Hader now becomes a huge question mark for the Brewers and any team interested in trading for him before Monday’s deadline. While his long-term value isn’t going to dip because of one really bad game — he’s been one of the best relievers in baseball since 2017 — teams that might’ve been willing to give up a lot to acquire him for September and October aren’t likely to take that risk now.

On the bright side, the Brewers came back and won the game and Hader’s no-hit streak for 2020 is now at 9.2 innings. But they can’t just throw him out there again with the game on the line in his next outing. It’s possible that Phelps or Williams will get the next save chance and Hader will get an opportunity to bounce back in a lower-leverage outing.

 

Reliever On The Rise

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