Bullpen Report: July 21, 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

•Heath Hembree, CIN: 26 pitches on Tuesday; 13 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Amir Garrett has worked back-to-back days as well, but with ten fewer pitches in total. If Garrett isn’t available either, Brad Brach, Josh Osich or Sean Doolittle could substitute.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 30 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos and Génesis Cabrera are likeliest to close in the event of a save opportunity on Wednesday.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•Amir Garrett, CIN | RosterResource

Heath Hembree’s still the top option for saves out of the Reds bullpen, but manager David Bell is perhaps the most aggressive manager in the National League when it comes to deploying his closer earlier in games, and Tuesday was no different. Hembree was assigned the eighth with the middle of the Mets lineup due up, although he gave up a run to make it a one-run ballgame for Garrett in the ninth.

Garrett walked the first batter he face but rebounded after a well-utilized mound visit to retire the next three batters faced, including two strikeouts. Despite better work of late—Garrett has allowed three runs in seven innings this month with 13 strikeouts—his ERA is a still-unpalatable 6.75. Nevertheless, it looks like he’s first in line behind Hembree, with Brad Brach also an option. Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims are expected off the IL sometime next month.

Losing A Grip

•None