Bullpen Report: July 27, 2021
The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
- 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.
- Injury News
- Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
- Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
- 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
•Matt Barnes, BOS: Back-to-back days; 9 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
Adam Ottavino is a likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday if Barnes isn’t available.
•Craig Kimbrel, CHC: Back-to-back days; 28 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
Ryan Tepera is a likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday if Kimbrel isn’t available.
•Heath Hembree, CIN: 23 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
Amir Garrett is a likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday, especially if Hembree isn’t available.
•Gregory Soto, DET: 42 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
José Cisnero is a likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday, especially if Soto isn’t available.
•Scott Barlow, KCR: 23 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
Greg Holland is a likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday, especially if Barlow isn’t available.
•Edwin Díaz, NYM: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 14 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
There aren’t many fresh options in the Mets’ bullpen, meaning that there’s a strong likelihood that Diaz will once again be available on Tuesday.
•Brad Hand, WSN: Back-to-back days; 13 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
Daniel Hudson has pitched three consecutive days and Kyle Finnegan has also pitched back-to-back days. Sam Clay and Wander Suero are likely candidates for a save chance on Tuesday if neither of the aforementioned options is available.
Injury News
•Taylor Rogers, MIN: Left Monday’s game (sprained middle finger). | RosterResource
Rogers left Monday’s game after only five pitches with a finger injury. The Twins’ closer situation was very likely to have a shakeup before Friday’s trade deadline — co-closers Rogers and Hansel Robles are both trade candidates — and this latest development isn’t likely to decrease the chances of it happening. But the question is now whether Rogers is traded or whether he sticks around while missing some time. In any case, there aren’t any obvious candidates ready to step in as the closer if neither Robles nor Rogers were on the roster at some point. Tyler Duffey might be the best option.
Outlier Saves
•None
Committee Clarity
•None
Losing A Grip
•Brad Hand, WSN | RosterResource
Not only is Hand in danger of losing the Nationals’ closer’s job due to his latest struggles, his trade value is also taking a hit at the worst possible time. After blowing his third save in his last five appearances on Monday — he allowed a walk-off, three-run homer to Andrew McCutchen — the 31-year-old lefty likely seems less appealing to playoff contenders than he would have prior to the All-Star break. His numbers are still good overall and many teams could still see plenty of value in a non-closer role, but it’s no longer a certainty that’s he’ll be traded.
While Hudson is the obvious choice to step in as the Nationals’ closer if Hand is removed from the role, he could also be traded this week. And if he’s dealt, that would leave Voth, Finnegan, and Tanner Rainey (currently on a rehab assignment) as the leading candidates for save chances.
Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.
So SEA gets moved to a committee and not a single word discusses it? This used to be THE place to go for bullpen situations, with usage analysis, manager quotes, and even who was warming up in certain situations (before scores changed). Now we get a list of who pitched, random 3 inning saves, and a blurb on a situation if we are lucky. This isn’t a shot at Jason but rather the whole format this year.
The old format was SO much more useful for my roto league.
Yeah I was hoping for a little more insight today, trade deadline looming and a little more info on guys I’m looking at like Bednar, Bender, Sewald etc would have been useful.
Agreed.
I think 30 closer situations is just too much for one person to handle. Perhaps fangraphs should have two people share this bullpen report responsibility.
Thanks for the feedback, ncb and others in the thread.
FWIW, this format was put in place for the shortened 2020 season out of necessity. The feedback was 100% positive and we decided it was the best path in 2021. When we announced this and continued with the format, there was again overwhelmingly positive feedback and not really any suggestions as to what else we could do differently. My goal was to add a Closer Depth Chart that told much of the story and use the Bullpen Report to give a bit more context when necessary. I think we’ve accomplished that and will continue to add features to the Closer Depth Chart in the future. Jon and Lucas, two of our new FanGraphs contributors, are also helping out this year and have done a good job adding their own voice/opinion.
With that said, I agree that there are some days where there is not much useful info in the report and that’s mostly a result of nothing relevant to write about on some days over the course of a 162-game season. Also, I think there are situations that I go back and forth on (in regards to how I list them on the depth chart/RosterResource) without feeling the need to write on it every time one of the pitchers in a related situations pitches. And that’s my bad for not always sensing that many readers aren’t viewing these every day and will always benefit from at least a quick update.
Thanks again and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be as specific as possible without your feedback and we will always do our best to make adjustments. That would be extremely helpful.