Bullpen Report: August 4, 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

•Raisel Iglesias, CIN: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 14 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

If Iglesias gets a day off on Tuesday, Amir Garrett is a good bet for a save chance versus the Indians.

•Taylor Rogers, MIN: 3 of last 4 days; 16 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

If Rogers gets the day off on Tuesday, Sergio Romo will be in line for another save chance. While he has now pitched four of the last six days, the left-handed Rogers has only thrown a total of 45 pitches over that span.

•Nick Burdi, PIT: Back-to-back days; 20 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

While Burdi didn’t throw an official pitch on Sunday, he warmed up and was brought into the game before a rain delay ended his day. After throwing 20 pitches on Monday, he’s very unlikely to be available on Tuesday. Richard Rodriguez has also pitched on back-to-back days, meaning that someone like Chris Stratton could get a save chance.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Rowan Wick, CHC | RosterResource

Wick, who finished off a 2-0 shutout over the Royals on Monday with a scoreless ninth, is looking more and more like the team’s preferred choice as the closer. It’s still too early to count out Jeremy Jeffress, who didn’t pitch after back-to-back days of work.

•Jairo Diaz and Carlos Estevez, COL | RosterResource

For the second time in as many days, the Rockies went with the Estevez-to-Diaz combination to close out a victory. On Sunday, Estevez ran into trouble before Diaz came on for a one-pitch save. This time, Estevez pitched a scoreless eighth, handing a three-run lead to Diaz in the ninth. The 29-year-old Diaz struggled a bit, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, before locking down his second save.

 

Losing A Grip

•Kirby Yates, SDP | RosterResource

Looking to bounce back from a pair of disastrous outings, Yates got his first save chance on Monday against the division rival Dodgers. Things didn’t start out great as Cody Bellinger led off the ninth with an absolute bomb to cut the lead to 5-4. To his credit, the 33-year-old Yates quickly put it behind him and made the next three hitters look silly, striking out AJ Pollock, Corey Seager, and Chris Taylor on 13 pitches to end the game.

Reliever On The Rise

•Josh Staumont, KCR | RosterResource

For years, Staumont has been the classic example of the pitcher that makes everyone wonder, “Wow, if only this guy could throw his 100 MPH fastball and wicked curveball for strikes”. At least through his first five appearances of 2020, we’re getting to see what that actually looks like. The 26-year-old has allowed only one run and two walks while striking out nine in five innings.

On Monday, he struck out all three batters he faced. Javy Baez went down looking on a 99 MPH fastball. Willson Contreras struck out on a curveball in the dirt. Kyle Schwarber was thrown four straight fastballs, including one that registered at 101 MPH for ball two. The next pitch was a curveball. As you can see below, Schwarber didn’t have a chance …

 

That Josh Staumont breaking ball … 👀 #AlwaysRoyal pic.twitter.com/SS8fWugOpa

— FOX Sports Kansas City (@FSKansasCity) August 4, 2020