Bullpen Report: August 9, 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

Alex Colomé, MIN: Three of last four days; 18 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Tyler Duffey and Caleb Thielbar are likeliest to fill in if Colomé needs a day.

Mark Melancon, SDP: 24 pitches on Sunday; 16 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Emilio Pagán and Drew Pomeranz are the best bets to substitute for the veteran Melancon.

Injury News

•Lucas Sims, CIN: Activated from the 10-Day IL (elbow sprain) on Sunday. | RosterResource
•Brad Brach, CIN: Placed on the 10-Day IL (shoulder impingement) on Sunday. | RosterResource

Sims returns after over a month on the Injured List, having made his last appearance in the big leagues on June 22nd. It’s been an odd season for the righty, who’s walked 12% of batters faced in putting up a 5.02 ERA, but has also struck out 35% of opponents, which helps to explain a 3.26 xERA. Sims has seven saves on the season and should factor back into the mix for saves, though Mychal Givens has a lot of helium and looks like the top option right now.

As for Brach, it turns out a balky shoulder may well be explaining some of his recent struggles. Brach allowed eight runs in his last five appearances before hitting the sidelines, striking out just one of the 22 batters he faced. Brach had been pitching quite well before the recent blowup, so he and the Reds are certainly hoping that some time recuperating will reset him.

Outlier Saves

•Richard Lovelady, KCR | RosterResource

The Royals sent Scott Barlow out to pitch with two outs in the eighth inning, presumably hoping to get four outs of one of their closers to seal a win. But the Cardinals offense and rain got in the way, as the Redbirds tied the score off of Barlow before the rain rolled in and stayed for two hours. At that point, the Royals couldn’t possibly send Barlow back out there even after taking the lead, so it was Lovelady brought in. He retired the side in order for a very unexpected first save but one that he’ll surely never forget.

Chris Martin, ATL | RosterResource

Will Smith’s worked hard of late, having pitched Saturday, Thursday and Wednesday, taking a much-needed day off on Sunday after failing to convert a save and taking the loss in his latest outing. Luke Jackson and Tyler Matzek are both probably ahead of Martin in the pecking order, but they had also worked three of four days and were seemingly unavailable. So that leaved Richard Rodríguez and Martin as the two choices, but Rodríguez was ultimately needed as the “fireman,” recording four outs between the seventh and eighth before turning the ball over to Martin in the ninth. Martin didn’t make it easy, throwing 18 pitches and allowing a run, but he ultimately secured his first save of the year. Martin’s having an enigmatic season, with his usually minuscule walk rate (3%) but a career-low strikeout rate of 17%.

•Zack Littell, SFG | RosterResource

It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for Littell, who was brought back up from Triple-A on Saturday, threw a scoreless inning that same day, and then was brought back into action on Sunday to throw two innings against the NL Central-leading Brewers. Littell made Sunday’s task look easier than it was, facing the minimum six batters in his two innings, erasing his one walk with a double-play ball. It was Littell’s first career save, and it might not be his last if he keeps pitching as he did this weekend.

Committee Clarity

Emmanuel Clase, CLE | RosterResource

Clase earned his 16th save of the season on Sunday, and was once again pitching after James Karinchak. Clase has widened his lead over Karinchak to five saves, with those five coming since Karinchak earned his last on July 21st, tying the two righties at 11 apiece. Clase’s ERA (1.75) is half that of Karinchak’s (3.51) and Karinchak seems to be relegated to a setup role for now.

•Mychal Givens, CIN | RosterResource

Sunday’s perfect outing makes two Reds saves in a row belonging to Givens, who’s been unscored upon since the Reds acquired him. Even with Lucas Sims off the IL and Tejay Antone due back soon, it sure seems as if Givens—whose ERA now stands at an excellent 2.27—is the top choice for Cincinnati saves right now. Nonetheless, David Bell isn’t one to anoint a closer very often, so Amir Garrett, Sims, Michael Lorenzen and eventually Antone are in the mix.

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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Philip Christymember
2 years ago

“Hembree threw 34 pitches on Tuesday and as such likely won’t be available on Wednesday” 😂😂😂 lol I have no idea what’s going on here