Bullpen Report: July 16, 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

•Félix Bautista, BAL: 11 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Back-to-back saves from Bautista and back-to-back holds from Yennier Cano have the O’s two best relievers likely in need of rest on Sunday. Look for Danny Coulombe or Bryan Baker to make an appearance late in the game if that is the case.

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 12 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

“Reliever on the Rise” Griffin Jax is also on “High Usage Alert” after back-to-back days in which he recorded a hold and a win with only 19 total pitches. Either Emilio Pagán or Jorge López is likely to step in for Duran should he be unavailable on Sunday.

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: 32 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Yikes. Pressly, Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu, Phil Maton were all used in back-to-back games and are all on “High Usage Alert”. That leaves Ryne Stanek and Rafael Montero as likely candidates to work in the late innings on Sunday.

•Devin Williams, MIL: 8 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Joel Payamps and Elvis Peguero were also used on back-to-back days and may be unavailable on Sunday. That would make middle relievers Hoby Milner, Abner Uribe, or Bryse Wilson likely to step in if Williams and setup men need a day off.

•Scott McGough, ARI: 24 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Miguel Castro and Andrew Chafin should both be available.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: 17 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

The Rogers brothers, Tyler and Taylor, should both be available on Sunday.

 

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Yimi García, TOR | RosterResource

The Jays went to Nate Pearson in the seventh, to Erik Swanson in the eighth, and García in the ninth. With Jordan Romano experiencing back pain, Yimi was the man to get the call.

Jordan Romano had an MRI on his lower back and wasn’t available today, per John Schneider.
Imaging came back clean and he’s considered day to day.#BlueJays

— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) July 15, 2023

García has three wins, two saves and nine holds in 2023 which is a respectable fantasy contribution from a non-closer. Though his ERA is at 4.54 on the year, he hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 10 appearances. Erik Swanson is likely the next man up if Romano needs time on the IL, but García could continue to get matchup looks and opportunities to close out the game. Keep an eye on Romano’s status in the next few days.

Committee Clarity

•Aroldis Chapman, TEX | RosterResource

On his new team, last night marked only Chapman’s third save of the year and his first with the Rangers. Closer Will Smith was deployed in the seventh and eighth innings and gave way to Chapman to throw a one-hit ninth with two strikeouts. Chapman collected his other two saves on the year with the Royals when their closer was unavailable, so in this case, it seems the Rangers will be sharing opportunities between the two in a committee. We’ll have to see how that shapes out in the next week or so, but Chapman has the better statistical line in 2023:

It’s safe to assume that these two relievers will get opportunities to close out games, but the split is unclear. The Rangers certainly bolstered their bullpen adding another closer lefty and they still have two good righties in José Leclerc and Josh Sborz to play matchups in late innings.

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