Bullpen Report: August 5, 2023

The 2023 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: Three of the last four days; 19 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Griffin Jax is the likeliest to close Saturday.

•Alexis Díaz, CIN: 32 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Righties Lucas Sims, Ian Gibaut and Buck Farmer have all been solid behind Díaz this year, with Sam Moll representing an option from the left side.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Matt Brash, SEA | RosterResource

Andrés Muñoz pitched Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so he was down for Friday’s game against the Angels. The Mariners bullpen was excellent in relief of Luis Castillo’s off start, throwing three scoreless, starting with Justin Topa and Tayler Saucedo. Brash had a little more activity in his inning of work, giving up a walk and a hit, but was able to nail down his second save of the year. He’s taken to the bullpen quite nicely, with a 3.28 ERA. His 80 strikeouts are the second-most amongst relievers, behind only Félix Bautista.

Committee Clarity

•The Royals | RosterResource

We’d been operating under the assumption that breakout righty Carlos Hernández would get the save reps after Scott Barlow’s trade to the Padres, but it was actually lefty Austin Cox who got the nod on Friday, with Hernández having pitched the seventh. Nick Wittgren pitched in between the two. It was matchup-oriented to an extent, with Hernández facing the 2-3-4-5 hitters up by just a run in the seventh, perhaps in the hopes that the Royals will add on more. Cox ultimately faced the top of the order with just a two-run lead. He hit his first batter faced, but struck out Alec Bohm and got Bryce Harper to bounce into two outs for his first career save. Dylan Coleman could also be a factor in the late innings, though his walk rate is concerning.

Losing A Grip

•None