Bullpen Report: July 29, 2020

The 2020 version of the Bullpen Report includes six different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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.
6. Reliever On The Rise: Non-closer who is quickly moving up the depth chart based on potential and recent performance.

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

None

Injury News

Kyle Crick, PIT: Placed on 10-Day DL with a strained lat. | RosterResource

After allowing four unearned runs in his 2020 debut, Crick picked up a blown save in his second appearance when he allowed a pair of inherited runners to score on a game-tying double by Ryan Braun on Monday. If things weren’t bad enough, he’s now landed on the Injured List. For at least the next 10 days, the Pirates’ closer committee will have to get by without him.

Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Activated from the Injured List. | RosterResource

If Gallegos is going to be part of a closer’s committee, he’ll be eased in after missing most of camp due to undisclosed reasons. That process began on Tuesday when he was called upon in the sixth inning with one out, no runners on base, and his team trailing 6-2. The 28-year-old, who had a 2.31 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 74 innings last season, retired both batters he faced on only six pitches.

Outlier Saves

Cam Hill, CLE | RosterResource

With the team’s top three relievers all having pitched in the first game of Tuesday’s double-header — James Karinchak (hold) to Nick Wittgren (hold) to Brad Hand (save) — the Indians put their trust in a 26-year-old rookie when they needed someone to secure a 5-3 lead in the ninth inning of game two. As was the case in his MLB debut on Sunday, Hill had an easy 1-2-3 inning (2 K) to finish the sweep over the White Sox.

Drew Pomeranz, SDP | RosterResource

The Padres have one of the best closers in the game, Kirby Yates, and several relievers who are capable of pitching in the ninth inning. Don’t expect them to go away from Yates very often, but the 33-year-old got an extra day off after pitching on Saturday and then throwing 28 pitches in a rough outing on Sunday. With a 5-3 lead in the ninth over the Giants, it was Pomeranz who got the call. Fourteen pitches later, he had three strikeouts and his first save of 2020.

Committee Clarity

Sergio Romo, MIN | RosterResource

Neither Romo or Taylor Rogers had pitched in 2020, but it was Romo who got the save chance with a three-run lead over the Cardinals on Tuesday. The 37-year-old pitched a scoreless inning to pick up the 130th save of his career.

It had been unclear whether Rogers was the Twins’ closer or if he’d share the job with Romo. After being acquired in late July 2019, Romo logged three saves in his first eight appearances with the Twins in what appeared to be a dual-closer situation with the left-handed Rogers. But Romo was used primarily in a setup role for the remainder of the season, while Rogers saved 12 games in his last 14 appearances.

Both pitchers are very effective against right-handed and left-handed batters, so manager Rocco Baldelli could simply just go with whoever he thinks has the best chance on any given day.

Nick Burdi, PIT | RosterResource

Burdi might not be able to go back-to-back games very often in 2020, but he could be manager Derek Shelton’s preferred closer whenever he is available. After striking out the side in a scoreless inning on Sunday, the 27-year-old picked up his first career save with a scoreless ninth (K, BB, 15 pitches) to close out an 8-6 win over the Brewers.

Oliver Drake, TBR | RosterResource

For the second time in three days, Rays manager Kevin Cash went to Nick Anderson with the game on the line in the seventh inning and then called on Drake with a three-run lead in the ninth. On both occasions, the 33-year-old Drake made quick work of his opponent and picked up the save.

Losing A Grip

Craig Kimbrel, CHC | RosterResource

DNP

Edwin Diaz, NYM | RosterResource

DNP

Reliever On The Rise

James Karinchak, CLE | RosterResource

In two full minor league seasons, Karinchak had 155 strikeouts in 79 innings. While he did walk a lot of batters (53 BB), he only allowed 45 hits and four homers. Without seeing a video or a scouting report, you got the feeling that this guy was not a comfortable at-bat for opposing hitters. But when you actually see the video and scouting report, it’s clear right away that Karinchak has the upper nineties fastball and power curve combination, along with the personality to become a bullpen superstar.

Still, it’s a big jump from Triple-A to impressive five-appearance stint in September to the late-inning relief role in which he’s been thrown into as a rookie.  So far, so good. Karinchak picked up his first career hold on Tuesday with a scoreless seventh inning. Of course, the 24-year-old, who wears number 99, made things interesting. After walking the leadoff hitter and wild pitching him to second, he struck out Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, and Jose Abreu to close out his first career appearance against the division rival White Sox.

James Karinchak, Overpowering 96mph Fastball…then yells into his glove…and talks to himself all the way to the dugout. 😂 pic.twitter.com/jKnFJwRzU2

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 28, 2020