Bullpen Report: September 11, 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

•Liam Hendriks, OAK: 3 consecutive days; 9 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Joakim Soria is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday.

•Brandon Workman, PHI: 28 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

With a double-header on Friday, it will be difficult to stay away from Workman despite the high pitch count on Thursday. But Héctor Neris and David Phelps could be more likely candidates for a save chance.

 

Injury News

•Emilio Pagán, SDP: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

In his first appearance after a 10-day stint on the Injured List, Pagan pitched his fifth consecutive scoreless outing on Thursday. The 29-year-old is clearly the Padres’ preferred option in the seventh inning to bridge the gap to Drew Pomeranz and Trevor Rosenthal.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Removed from Thursday’s game with groin injury. | RosterResource

In to secure a 3-1 lead over the Tigers in the seventh inning of game two on Friday, Gallegos allowed a walk and two singles before he was removed with a groin injury. Ryan Helsley, who would be a top candidate for save chances if Gallegos misses time, allowed both inherited runners to score and two more of his own as the Cardinals lost 6-3.

Prior to Thursday’s game, the 29-year-old Gallegos had separated himself as the team’s primary closer and had allowed only two runs in 11.2 innings. Helsley, John Gant, Andrew Miller, and Alex Reyes are candidates to be part of a closer committee while he’s out.

•Sean Doolittle, WSN: Removed from Thursday’s game with oblique injury. | RosterResource

Since returning from a stint on the Injured List with a knee injury, Doolittle had not allowed an earned run in 4.1 innings pitched. After retiring the first batter he faced on Thursday, he left the game with an oblique injury.

The Nationals’ bullpen has had some bright spots, but is mostly a mess as their disastrous season winds down.

 

Outlier Saves

•Travis Bergen, ARI | RosterResource

An overworked bullpen got a day of rest as Madison Bumgarner and Riley Smith combined for 8.1 innings before handing a three-run lead over to Bergen. The 26-year-old lefty struck out Max Muncy and got Chris Taylor to pop out to finish off the 5-2 victory over the Dodgers and pick up his first career MLB save.

 

Committee Clarity

•Bryan Garcia, DET | RosterResource

After Garcia earned his first career save on Sunday, the Tigers went back to the 25-year-old for the team’s second consecutive save chance on Thursday. He retired the Cardinals in order for the save.

Garcia did not have any strikeouts, which will continue to be a concern. His seven strikeouts in 17.1 innings would have been just fine forty years ago, but it is well below-average in this era. He’ll continue to pitch high-leverage games, however, as long as the batted balls continue to turn into outs.

 

Losing A Grip

•Brandon Workman, PHI | RosterResource

Workman hasn’t been terrible since the Phillies acquired him to be their closer last month. Even after a blown save and a loss on Thursday, he has five saves in seven chances while allowing five earned runs in 10.1 innings. While he hasn’t been flawless, he’s helped to stabilize a very bad Phillies’ bullpen as the team has won 12 of 17 games to jump back into the playoff picture.

Ironically, the reason he could be in danger of losing the closer’s job is that Héctor Neris, whose struggles contributed to the acquisition of Workman, has really turned things around and might just be a better option right now. The 31-year-old has allowed just one earned run over his last 8.1 innings.

 

Reliever On The Rise

Early in the season, picking out a “Reliever On The Rise” was a simple task with several options to choose from each day. Not so much over the last few weeks, though. Most of the breakout relievers have already been identified. As a result, this section will highlight a pitcher or two only once per week through the end of the season.