Bullpen Report: July 9, 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. Relievers on the Rise: Notes on relievers who are performing well of late, moving up in the bullpen hierarchy.
6. 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

•James Karinchak, CLE: 28 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Emmanuel Clase is likeliest to get a save chance on Friday.

•Scott Barlow, KCR: 25 pitches on Thursday; 22 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Greg Holland has worked back-to-back days as well, but with only nine pitches on Thursday he’s much likelier than Barlow to be available. Josh Staumont, Kyle Zimmer and Jake Brentz are also options.

•Josh Hader, MIL: 14 pitches on Thursday; 14 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Devin Williams (who’s also worked back-to-back days but with just 19 pitches total) or Brad Boxberger could substitute.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Jake Diekman, OAK | RosterResource

Bob Melvin was playing matchups on Thursday, electing to have closer (and reigning AL Reliever of the Month) Lou Trivino face the top of the order in the eighth inning before turning the ball over to the lefty Diekman to pitch the ninth with two left-handed bats due up. Diekman allowed a leadoff single but was able to induce a double play and a line out to end the game for his seventh save of the season. It was his first save since May 26th, to Trivino’s 13.

Committee Clarity

•None

Relievers on the Rise

This is a new feature with notes on relievers who are performing well of late, moving up in the bullpen hierarchy. Relievers on the Rise will once a week, following Thursday’s games. For more Relievers on the Rise, click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

•Josh Taylor, BOS | RosterResource

Taylor looked like an incredible get for the Red Sox as a rookie in 2019, debuting at 26 years of age after being acquired in a minor trade that sent Deven Marrero to the Diamondbacks the year prior. That season, Taylor pitched to a 3.04 ERA/3.01 xERA, with a strikeout rate of nearly one-third while issuing a free pass to under ten percent of batters. But Taylor could never get things going in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, missing over a month while infected with COVID-19 (fortunately, he was asymptomatic), pitching just 7.1 poor innings (he allowed eight runs) before going back on the shelf under a month later with shoulder tendinitis.

The start to Taylor’s 2021 seemed like more of the same, as the lefty permitted runs to score in four of his first nine appearances, allowing a staggering 17 hits while recording just 25 outs, adding up to a 1.039 OPS against. But from his tenth appearance on, Taylor has been spotless. He’s allowed zero runs in 26 appearances spanning 21.2 innings, striking out 28 with a quarter as many walks, with a 70% grounder rate. In that time, Taylor’s worked his way all the way back to a top setup role, one that he was entrusted with often two years ago.

•Anthony Bender, MIA | RosterResource

Bender was an unheralded righty who toiled in the Royals and Brewers’ systems after being drafted in the 20th round of the 2016 draft. Before being signed by the Marlins last November, Bender spent 2020 in the independent American Association, pitching to an uninspiring 5.48 ERA for the Milwaukee Milkmen. Clearly, that wasn’t enough to dissuade the Marlins from offering Bender a deal, and he’s done nothing but deal since.

Bender’s rise started in Spring Training, when the 26-year-old righty threw 8.1 scoreless innings, striking out ten and walking just two, with only three hits allowed. He was called up to the Marlins on May 4th—before having appeared in a Triple-A game—and has allowed just five runs (three earned) while striking out 37 of 100 batters faced, walking seven and surrendering only 13 hits. He earned his first save on July 5th and had the opportunity to pick up his second two days later, although he blew that chance. Nonetheless, Bender may be giving Yimi García a run for his job, and would almost definitely be the one to take it in the event García is traded out of Miami. With a hard fastball and wipeout breaking ball, Bender already has García beat in the “stuff” department, anyway.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.