Bullpen Report: July 29, 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.

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

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: Back-to-back days; 9 pitches on Wednesday. |  RosterResource

Ryan Burr and Aaron Bummer are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if Hendriks isn’t available.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Back-to-back days; 14 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Jonathan Loaisiga is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Chapman isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•Pete Fairbanks, TBR: Left Wednesday’s game (shoulder inflammation). | RosterResource

Fairbanks, who had been outstanding as of late (8 IP, 0 R, H, BB, 11 K, 2 Sv, 2 Hld) prior to allowing a run in his last appearance, left Wednesday’s game after only seven pitches. His shoulder will be evaluated on Thursday. It’s not clear whether it’s related to the shoulder injury that caused him to miss a month earlier in the season.

For now, Diego Castillo remains the leading candidate for save chances with Andrew Kittredge the most likely pitcher to join the mix if Fairbanks needs a stint on the Injured List.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Tyler Clippard, ARI | RosterResource

Clippard’s chances of becoming a trade candidate were slim, considering he didn’t make his 2021 debut until July 21. But after picking up holds in back-to-back scoreless outings, the Diamondbacks ramped up the showcase on Wednesday by giving the 36-year-old veteran a save chance in what will likely be his final appearance before Friday’s trade deadline. Following Joakim Soria, who pitched a scoreless eighth for his third hold, Clippard closed out a 3-2 victory over the Rangers for his 69th career save.

While Soria is very likely to be traded — he hasn’t allowed a run in 13 of his last 15 appearances — it could still be difficult to trade away Clippard despite his track record and his three scoreless innings. If he stays, he’d likely be the closer for a Diamondbacks’ team that probably won’t be ahead too often.

•Anthony Bender, Dylan Floro, Anthony Bass, MIA | RosterResource

The not-at-all-surprising trade of Yimi García on Wednesday has the Marlins’ closing situation in an unclear state. While Bender would’ve been the leading candidate to take over a month ago — he began his MLB career by pitching 21 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run — the rookie has allowed nine earned runs over his last 14 1/3 innings and probably won’t be named as the primary closer. Instead, a committee that includes Bender, Floro, and Bass is much more likely with Richard Bleier and John Curtiss also possibilities to be part of the group. Of course, every single one of the aforementioned relievers could have trade interest so it’s still too early to determine how wide-ranging a committee it will be for their next game on Friday evening.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.