Bullpen Report: September 12, 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.

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.)

Notable Workloads

•Liam Hendriks, CWS: 21 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Next in line, Craig Kimbrel, is also on “High Usage Alert” as he threw 19 pitches on Saturday (BS) and has thrown in back-to-back days. Hendriks is known to pitch through heavy usage but if he and Kimbrel need rest on Sunday, Ryan Tepera is likely to get a save opportunity.

•Raisel Iglesias, LAA: 24 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Mike Mayers is also on “High Usage Alert” making setup man Steve Cishek a likely candidate for a save opportunity if both Iglesias and Mayers need rest on Sunday.

•Kenley Jansen, LAD: 8 pitches on Saturday, three days in a row. | RosterResource

Blake Treinen threw 20 pitches on Saturday and 25 pitches on Friday and is likely in need of rest. That makes Alex Vesia a likely candidate to get a save opportunity if one comes up on Sunday.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Caleb Baragar, SFG | RosterResource

Baragar earned a three-inning save on Saturday when he came into the game in the seventh inning with a nine-run lead. The 27-year-old has bounced up and down between AAA and the big leagues this year but earned his second save of the season. He gave up three hits, one walk, one earned run, and struck out two. The Giant’s pen currently sits in ninth place according to WAR at 3.9 on the season. Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers each hold 1.1 WAR and have a stronghold on the closer and setup-man roles, respectively. Baragar has added flexibility to the Giants’ bullpen and may work himself into a more consistent role over time, but doesn’t seem likely to impact fantasy rosters any time soon.

•Josh Taylor, BOS | RosterResource

Garrett Whitlock threw in the eighth and ninth innings giving up only one walk and one hit, keeping the game tied at eight. He threw 21 pitches and earned the win, but the game went into extra innings and it was Josh Taylor who received the save, throwing 14 pitches in the tenth with two strikeouts and one hit. Much like Baragar (above), the 28-year-old has been up and down between AAA and the big leagues and has been a nice fill-in for the Red Sox who have desperately needed some depth as they battle covid outbreaks. Taylor has thrown 45.1 innings in 2021, has had some trouble with control (4.37 BB/9), but has had better than average strikeout ability (11.32 K/9). While it’s likely Taylor is filling in for a few players on the IL, a 2.88 FIP in 2021 certainly shows Taylor could become a mainstay in the Red Sox pen in the future.

 

 

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing a Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.