Bullpen Report: July 19, 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

•Scott Barlow, KCR: 33 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

On a better team, Barlow would warrant an entry in Losing A Grip, but the Royals don’t really have anyone else to turn to to close with Carlos Hernández often a multiple inning guy and everyone else struggling or inexperienced. Hernández has worked back to back days and three of four so he’s probably not available Wednesday, which could leave someone like Jonathan Heasley as closer.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: 27 pitches (two games) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Both Rogers brothers should be available to close on Wednesday.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Kevin Ginkel, ARI| RosterResource

De facto closer Scott McGough really struggled on Sunday in Toronto, allowing four runs, and between that game and Saturday’s, he threw 49 pitches. That left him out of commission on Tuesday despite Monday’s day off, and with Andrew Chafin on the paternity list and Miguel Castro having pitched the eighth, Ginkel was the best option left. He struck out the side and lowered his ERA to 2.21 with his first save of the year. He’s also got a sterling 0.95 WHIP and has allowed just two homers in 36.2 innings.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•A.J. Puk, MIA | RosterResource

In serving up a three-run walk-off homer to Nolan Arenado on Tuesday, Puk ballooned his ERA to 4.40, and he’s now allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 5.2 innings this month. Skip Schumaker has liked deploying Tanner Scott as a fireman, but he might be too valuable now to use in the seventh or eighth if Puk continues to pitch like this. JT Chargois, Steven Okert, and Huascar Brazoban have also pitched quite well of late.