Bullpen Report: September 1, 2020

The 2020 version of 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

•Mark Melancon, ATL: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 8 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Shane Greene is the most likely candidate for a save chance if Melancon is not available on Tuesday.

•Alex Colomé, CHW: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 14 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Evan Marshall is the most likely candidate for a save chance if Colome is not available on Tuesday.

•Greg Holland, KCR: 3 consecutive days; 16 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Josh Staumont is the most likely candidate for a save chance on Tuesday.

•Taylor Rogers, MIN: 25 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Sergio Romo is the most likely candidate for a save chance if Rogers is not available on Tuesday.

•Brandon Workman, PHI: 3 of last 4 days; 21 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Héctor Neris is the most likely candidate for a save chance if Workman is not available on Tuesday. Newly-acquired David Phelps could also be in the mix if he’s added to the roster.

•Anthony Bass, TOR: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 18 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Rafael Dolis and A.J. Cole are the most likely candidates for a save chance if Bass is not available on Tuesday.

Trade

•Archie Bradley: Traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Cincinnati Reds. | RosterResource

Reds general manager did not offer any clarity on whether Bradley or Raisel Iglesias will be the closer or if they’ll share the role. The priority was to add another reliable late-inning reliever and it will be up to manager David Bell to determine who gets the save chances.

Since allowing three runs in his first two outings of the season, Iglesias has not given up a run in seven of his last eight games. Removing the incumbent seems unlikely at this point.

Without Bradley, there are no clear options for the Diamondbacks to close games. Hector Rondón has the experience, but he’s having a bad season. Junior Guerra, Kevin Ginkel, and Stefan Crichton are likely candidates to be part of a closer committee. | RosterResource

•Austin Adams and Taylor Williams: Traded from the Seattle Mariners to the San Diego Padres. | RosterResource

Adams was the favorite to be the Mariners’ closer when it appeared he was on track for Opening Day after October knee surgery. But he’s still on the Injured List and now he’ll be pitching for one of the best teams in baseball if he does return in 2020. In all likelihood, he won’t play a major role until 2021 when he could be in the mix for a late-inning role.

Williams was the actual Mariners’ closer and he was having a fine season before melting down and blowing a four-run lead against the Padres on Thursday. Now he’s on the Padres, a team that’s so deep in talented relievers that Williams might not even have a spot until 2021. He has one option remaining and most of the Padres’ relievers do not. Like Adams, he figures to play a bigger role in 2021.

In the meantime, the Mariners are likely to turn to some combination of Yoshihisa Hirano and a pair of rookies, Joey Gerber and Anthony Misiewicz, to close out games for the remainder of the season. Looking ahead, the Mariners might’ve acquired their future closer in the seven-player trade with San Diego. Andres Muñoz, who will be just over a year removed from Tommy John surgery on Opening Day 2021, shouldn’t take long to put himself into contention for the job once he’s fully recovered and throwing 102 MPH fastballs once again. | RosterResource

Injury News

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Outlier Saves

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Committee Clarity

•Greg Holland, KCR | RosterResource

The expectation was that Holland would be traded prior to the deadline. Instead, he picked up his second save of the season for the Royals with a scoreless ninth in a 2-1 win over the Indians. With the 34-year-old veteran on board for the remainder of the season, it’s likely that Staumont and Scott Barlow will continue in setup roles with an occasional save chance. Both should compete for the closer’s job in 2021.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL | RosterResource

The last two Cardinals’ saves have gone to Gallegos with nine games in between. On Monday, there almost wasn’t a save opportunity. With a five-run lead in the ninth, Jake Woodford allowed a three-run homer to Eugenio Suárez to cut the lead to 7-5 with only one out. Gallegos came in to strike out the next two batters and close out the win. It’s a pretty safe bet that the 29-year-old is the team’s primary closer.

•Diego Castillo, TBR | RosterResource

The 26-year-old Castillo has pitched a scoreless inning while logging a save in his last three appearances. All of a sudden, this doesn’t look like much of a committee anymore. If it wasn’t the Rays, I’d assume this trend would continue. But you never know with this team, especially if Nick Anderson returns from the Injured List in the next few days.

Losing A Grip

•Cole Sulser, BAL | RosterResource

The writing was on the wall after Sulser’s latest blown save and manager Brandon Hyde confirmed that the 30-year-old rookie was out as the team’s closer. With Miguel Castro traded to the Mets on Monday and Hunter Harvey not expected to be available on back-to-back days while he’s being eased back from an elbow injury, the Orioles are short on options. Tanner Scott, Travis Lakins Sr., and Harvey, when available, will likely be part of the team’s closer committee.

•Josh Hader, MIL | RosterResource

Two days since his five-walk debacle and hours since the trade deadline passed, Hader struck out the side on 18 pitches to pick up eighth save of the season and extend his hitless streak to 10.2 innings. It will probably take more than one good outing for people to stop thinking “uh oh, here we go again” anytime he walks the first batter of an inning. But bouncing back to close out a one-run game with no issues is a very good sign.

Reliever On The Rise

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