Bullpen Report: August 5, 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

•Alex Colome, CHW: Back-to-back days; 24 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

If Colome is unavailable on Wednesday, Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall are options for a save chance.

•Liam Hendriks, OAK: 3 of last 4 days; 10 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Hendriks is likely available on Wednesday after throwing just 10 pitches on Tuesday following an off day on Monday.

 

Injury News

•Roberto Osuna, HOU | RosterResource

Osuna, who is on the Injured List because of elbow discomfort, could require season-ending Tommy John surgery that would also put his 2021 season in doubt. Seeking a second opinion, therefore, would make sense in this case. If he opts to rest and rehab in hopes of returning later in the season and puts off surgery until the October or November, he would definitely be out until 2022. If he has surgery in the near future, he’s still probably out until 2022.

Outlier Saves

•Yency Almonte, COL | RosterResource

With Jairo Diaz and Carlos Estevez both having pitched on back-to-back days, it was Almonte who was called on to protect a 5-2 lead versus the Giants with two runners on and one out in the eighth inning. After inducing an inning-ending double play on the first pitch, manager Bud Black let the 6’5″ right-hander finish the job in the ninth to pick up his first career save.

•Trevor May, MIN | RosterResource

Instead of going with Taylor Rogers or Sergio Romo to put out a ninth inning fire with the Pirates having already scored twice to cut into a 7-1 lead, it was May who was called on with the tying run on deck and one out. Four pitches later, he had his first save of 2020 and the sixth of his career.

 

Committee Clarity

•Kyle Ryan, CHC | RosterResource

Craig Kimbrel was given a good opportunity to build up some confidence on Tuesday, getting a save chance with a three-run lead against the Royals. But manager David Ross wasn’t taking any chances after he allowed a leadoff single and a one-out double. Ryan allowed an RBI groundout and an RBI single, but was able to hold on for his first career save.

It’s clear that Jeremy Jeffress and Rowan Wick are trusted members of this closer committee. The lefty Ryan, who had a 3.54 ERA and 14 holds in 73 appearances last season, balances out the group nicely.

•Ty Buttrey, LAA | RosterResource

Despite giving up a lead in three of his four appearances thus far, Buttrey apparently still has the confidence of manager Joe Maddon because he got the call again on Tuesday to protect a 5-3 lead with two outs in the eighth. This time, he was successful, retiring all four batters he faced to pick up his first save.

Although the Angels are in closer-by-committee mode, Buttrey could quickly separate himself from the group. When he was called up in 2018, shortly after being acquired from the Red Sox, he had four saves and only one run allowed over his first 14 appearances.

•Nick Anderson, TBR | RosterResource

It took 27 appearances, but the Rays’ best reliever since being acquired at the 2019 trade deadline finally picked up his first save with the team. It took a bases loaded situation with one out in the ninth inning of a 5-1 game for manager Kevin Cash to give Anderson a save opportunity. He struck out Jose Peraza and Andrew Benintendi to end the game.

•Edinson Volquez, TEX | RosterResource

All indications have been that Volquez is the first man up in the Rangers’ closer committee. That save chance hasn’t happened, but the 37-year-old sure didn’t help his cause with Tuesday’s performance. Pitching the ninth inning of a 1-1 tie versus the A’s, Volquez loaded the bases on a single and two walks. After retiring the next batter on a pop-up, manager Chris Woodward pulled Volquez in favor of Jesse Chavez, who promptly allowed a walk-off homer to Stephen Piscotty.

 

Losing A Grip

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC | RosterResource

Four days after another brutal outing, Kimbrel was trusted enough to at least begin the ninth inning with a 5-2 lead. He was not trusted enough, however, to get himself out of the mess he created when he allowed a single and a double to two of the first three batters he faced. Ross replaced him with Ryan, who picked up the save.

While it was mostly assumed that the Cubs were moving to a closer committee, at least for the time being, Ross gave the veteran Kimbrel what appeared to the save version of an “uncontested layup”. Now, the 32-year-old veteran, who has 346 career saves, will likely be relegated to low-leverage duty for the time being.

•Edwin Diaz, NYM | RosterResource

Unlike the Cubs’ approach with Kimbrel, the Mets have given their struggling closer back-to-back outings with his team trailing. The results have been good. He has pitched two scoreless innings, including an easy 1-2-3 eighth with a pair of strikeouts on Tuesday.

Reliever On The Rise

•Yency Almonte, COL | RosterResource

In three appearances coming into Tuesday’s game, Almonte had allowed just one run and two hits over five innings with seven strikeouts and no walks in 2020. After another 1.2 scoreless innings, including his first career save, it’s becoming clear that the 26-year-old could be finally reaching the potential that he has flashed over the past few seasons.

It’s good timing, too, with Wade Davis and Scott Oberg on the Injured List and plenty of room to move up the bullpen ladder after Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw were released. Almonte was also out of options, meaning that he was down to his final chance with the Rockies.

Armed with a mid-nineties fastball and a changeup that he’ll use occasionally, Almonte is leaning heavily on an above-average slider that can produce a lot of awkward swings and misses.

Tight(No loop) slervy 3/4 breaking ball from Yency Almonte is thrown with fastball arm speed. Hitter is well out in front because he is most likely reading inside fastball out of the pitcher’s hand & there is enough of a speed differential to produce a swing & miss. pic.twitter.com/MJ2UG1T5qj

— Jerry Weinstein (@JWonCATCHING) July 27, 2020