Bullpen Report: August 5, 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

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 27 pitches on Wednesday. |  RosterResource

Brad Hand is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Romano isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•Matt Barnes, BOS: Activated from 10-Day IL (COVID-19). | RosterResource

Barnes returned to action after missing only one day — he tested negative for COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms on Tuesday — and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to close out a 4-1 win over the Tigers and pick up his 24th save. It was his first appearance, and the Red Sox’s first win, since last Wednesday.

Outlier Saves

•Trevor May, NYM | RosterResource

With closer Edwin Díaz on the Paternity List for at least Wednesday’s game, it was May who got the call the Mets leading the Marlins 5-3 in the ninth inning. He retired the side in order to preserve the win and pick up his fourth save. The 31-year-old struggled earlier in the season, but he has a 1.74 ERA over his last 20 1/3 innings pitched with ten walks and 28 strikeouts.

 

Committee Clarity

•Manuel Rodríguez, CHC | RosterResource

The Cubs’ first save following the trade of Craig Kimbrel went to veteran lefty Kyle Ryan in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Nationals. The next save chance came with a much higher degree of difficulty — a ninth inning, one-run lead over the Rockies at Coors Field — which is why it was a bit surprising that the 24-year-old Rodriguez got the call in only his third big league appearance. Not only that, he gave up a walk-off homer to the only batter he faced in his previous outing. It was clear, however, after his MLB debut, a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts while featuring a 99 MPH fastball, that he has the potential to pitch in the late innings.

Against the Rockies on Wednesday, Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first career save. Giving him that chance to bounce back from the walk-off homer likely means that manager David Ross trusts him with the game on the line and will continue to give him high-leverage opportunities moving forward.

•Michael Lorenzen, CIN | RosterResource

Heath Hembree’s latest struggles has the Reds’ closing situation back in a state of flux once again, but the team’s newest bullpen additions — Mychal Givens, Luis Cessa, and Justin Wilson were acquired before the trade deadline and Lorenzen recently returned from the Injured List — should help them weather the storm. On Wednesday, it was Lorenzen who came in to slam the door on an eighth inning rally by the Twins that had cut the Reds’ lead from 6-1 to 6-5. He stayed in the game to pitch a scoreless ninth and close out the win to pick up his first save of 2021.

The 29-year-old Lorenzen was supposed to begin the season in the Reds’ rotation, but a shoulder injury kept him out of action until mid-July. He made one appearance before a strained hamstring sent him right back to the Injured List. But it’s a good sign that he’s now pitched four of the last six days, including back-to-back days on separate occasions. He could be a difference-maker for a Reds’ bullpen that is currently without Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims.

•Ryan Sherriff, TBR | RosterResource

With Jeffrey Springs on the Injured List due to a knee injury, it appears that Sherriff will be the Rays’ primary left-handed pitcher in their closer committee. With lefty batters Jake Fraley and Jarred Kelenic due to bat in the ninth inning with the Rays leading 4-3 over the Mariners on Wednesday, it was the perfect time to call on the 31-year-old Sherriff. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close out the win and pick up his second career save. In two seasons with Tampa Bay, Sherriff has allowed an earned run in only two of 19 appearances.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.