Bullpen Report: July 3, 2021

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five differentßsections, 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

Will Smith, ATL: Back-to-back days; 20 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

A.J. Minter is a likely candidate for a save chance on Saturday if Smith isn’t available.

Ryan Pressly, HOU: Back-to-back days; 11 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Ryne Stanek is a likely candidate for a save chance on Saturday if Pressly isn’t available.

Alex Reyes, STL: 3 of last 4 days; 22 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos is a likely candidate for a save chance on Saturday if Reyes is not available.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

Heath Hembree, CIN | RosterResource

Since quickly working his way into a high-leverage role after not allowing an earned run in his first nine appearances of the season, Hembree struggled over the next month (14 IP, 15 ER, 8 HR) as Amir Garrett, Brad Brach, and Art Warren recently settled in as the team’s top relief options. But, on Friday, the Reds showed continued faith in the 32-year-old, who has nearly 15 strikeouts per nine innings. As has been the team’s approach for most of the season, the Reds used their best relievers — Garrett, Brach, and Warren — prior to the ninth inning. With a 2-1 lead over the Cubs, Hembree got the call to close things out. He allowed a single, but struck out two batters in a scoreless inning to pick up his second save.

With three consecutive scoreless appearances, Hembree should continue to be a late-inning option, although it appears to be a wide-ranging committee on any given day.

Scott Barlow, KCR | RosterResource

After Barlow’s last save on June 3, which put the Royals two games above .500, the team went 5-21 with nine consecutive losses heading into Friday’s game. Greg Holland had picked up both of the team’s saves over that span, but it wasn’t clear whether he had become the team’s primary closer. With a 6-4 lead over the Twins on Friday, Holland pitched a scoreless eighth and Barlow closed things out in the ninth for his third save in the eventual 7-4 win.

In all likelihood, Barlow and Holland are in a co-closer situation with Josh Staumont not making a strong case to join the committee after allowing a run in four of his last seven outings.

José Alvarado and Ranger Suárez, PHI | RosterResource

Alvarado was given the first opportunity to be the team’s closer after Héctor Neris was removed from the role last week. He hasn’t done much, however, to earn the team’s confidence in allowing him to continue as the primary closer. On Friday, he retired the final batter in the eighth inning to keep a 3-0 shutout intact versus the Padres before things fell apart in the ninth. He allowed a leadoff walk, RBI double, and another walk before he was replaced by Suárez, who allowed a two-run, game-tying double to Jurickson Profar.

Fortunately for the Phillies, they won in the tenth after Suárez pitched a scoreless top-half of the inning to set up a walk-off win in the bottom-half. The 25-year-old lefty now has four wins to go along with an 0.88 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. While Alvarado is expected to remain the Phillies’ top candidate for save chances, Archie Bradley should remain in the mix while Suárez is also deserving of a chance.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

 

Not Very Stable
Hot Seat
Committee





Comments are closed.