Bullpen Report: August 4, 2021

NEW FEATURE ALERT! We have added an upgraded version of RosterResource’s Closer Depth Chart to FanGraphs. Read more about it here.

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).

Notable Workloads

Heath Hembree, CIN: 34 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Amir Garrett, Mychal Givens and Michael Lorenzen are the likeliest backup closers.

Dylan Floro, MIA: Three straight games; 14 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Anthony Bender, Richard Bleier and Anthony Bass could each step in on Wednesday if the Marlins have a ninth-inning edge.

David Bednar, PIT: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Chris Stratton and Chasen Shreve are the best options to substitute if needed.

Injury News

Matt Barnes, BOS: Placed on the COVID-related injured list (symptoms) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Barnes has not tested positive, but since he’s exhibiting COVID-like symptoms, the Red Sox were forced to IL him. Hopefully for both the team and player, it’s a short absence for Barnes, who’ll continue to test negative and feel better soon. He’s been incredible this season, with a 2.30 ERA backed up by a 1.82 xERA, and he’s struck out over 40% of hitters.

While Barnes is out, Adam Ottavino is likeliest to fill in, though Hirokazu Sawamura and Josh Taylor are plausible as well.

Outlier Saves

•Ryne Stanek, HOU | RosterResource

All-Star closer Ryan Pressly is on the paternity list (congrats, Ryan and family!), and while it seemed as if Kendall Graveman would be the top option in Pressly’s absence, it was Stanek who got the first shot on Tuesday. Graveman had pitched the eighth inning against the middle of the order, so it seems as if the closing situation will be more matchup-based while Pressly is out. Stanek’s had an up-and-down year that’s ultimately produced a 3.88 ERA, but he had no problem dispatching the Dodgers in order for his third save of the year.

José Alvarado, PHI | RosterResource

Newly-acquired closer Ian Kennedy threw 49 pitches in his first two days as a Phillie, and another backup plan, Archie Bradley, worked three straight days leading into Tuesday. As such, the Phillies rode Zack Wheeler for as long as they could, and he recorded 22 outs before giving the ball to Héctor Neris to finish the eighth. Joe Girardi could have stuck with Neris for the ninth but elected to turn the game over to the enigmatic Alvarado. In an all-too rare occasion, Alvarado worked a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two without walking a batter—something he’s done to 20% of those he’s faced. It was Alvarado’s fourth save of the season, and he should continue getting chances here and there when Kennedy needs a day.

Committee Clarity

Alex Colomé, MIN | RosterResource

The first save in the post-Robles/Rogers era for the Twins belongs to Colomé, who was a bit shaky on Tuesday but nonetheless kept the Reds off the board to preserve a two-run lead. Rogers may be out for the rest of the season with an injury to his finger tendon, and it appears Colomé is indeed the man for the job. That said, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Alcala and others may yet get looks in place of Colomé, who was expected to get plenty of saves for a very good Twins team but struggled and instead has just three for a last-place club.

Diego Castillo, SEA | RosterResource

Castillo’s pitched three times since the Mariners acquired him, and each time it came after Paul Sewald had already pitched. Tuesday was Castillo’s first save as a Mariner, but it appears like it will be far from his last, as he looks to be just ahead of Sewald in the pecking order for saves. That’s nothing against Sewald, who’s been even better than Castillo this season and will continue to get plenty of high-leverage chances.

•Dylan Floro, MIA | RosterResource

The Marlins have two saves since Yimi García was traded to the Astros, and both have been earned by Floro, who earned another one on Tuesday, stranding the tying runner on second after allowing a run to score. Floro’s not a household name but he’s nonetheless been very good all year, with a 2.64 ERA, ground ball rate pushing 50% and a perfect homer rate of zero per nine innings. Tuesday’s save was his fourth of the season and he should stay first in line whenever the Marlins have a ninth-inning lead.

Losing A Grip

•Heath Hembree, CIN | RosterResource

Hembree threw 34 pitches on Tuesday and as such likely won’t be available on Wednesday, and so we won’t get a great gauge on Cincinnati’s closer situation no matter what happens. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Hembree has allowed six runs while recording just nine outs in his last four appearances, ballooning his ERA from 4.33 to 5.40. Hembree can miss bats with the best of them (40% strikeout rate), but the home run he allowed to Jorge Polanco on Tuesday was the tenth he’s allowed in under 40 innings, and such dinger-proneness isn’t viable in a closer.

The Reds revamped their bullpen at the deadline, acquiring Mychal Givens, Justin Wilson and Luis Cessa to help a beleaguered group, and any of the three could substitute for Hembree. Michael Lorenzen and Brad Brach are also possibilities, and Lucas Sims and Tejay Antone should be off the IL sometime this month.

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee





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muggheadmember
2 years ago

I dropped Clase for Bednar right before Karinchak blew up and now I’m thinking it might be best to drop Hembree in favor of Clase, who is available as a FA. Would that make sense if I’m looking for saves? Thanks.

muggheadmember
2 years ago
Reply to  Jon Becker

Thanks for the reply/guidance. Closer situations have been especially difficult to manage this year…