Bullpen Report: September 14, 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

•Kenley Jansen, LAD: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

After Jansen threw 21 pitches on Saturday, the last thing the Dodgers needed to do was use him again on Sunday with a seven-run lead in the ninth. But since he was already warming in the bottom of the eighth with his team ahead by four runs, he still came in to close things out after Chris Taylor’s three-run homer extended the lead to 8-1 heading into the ninth.

On the one hand, Jansen now might not be available for the first game of a crucial series against the Padres on Monday. But considering how bad his outing was on Saturday — he had a blown save and a loss after allowing four earned runs on five hits and an error — maybe it’s better that he got his confidence back with a 1-2-3 inning against the Astros before he has to face off against Slam Diego.

Here’s what manager Dave Roberts had to say about who will be his closer on Monday …

Who is the Dodgers' closer tomorrow? "I would say Kenley is down, but Caleb’s available, Treinen’s available, Baez is available. We have a handful of guys I feel comfortable. Even in the right spot I feel good with Kolarek."

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) September 14, 2020

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Matt Andriese, LAA | RosterResource

With Ty Buttrey and Mike Mayers both having worked three consecutive days and Felix Peña pitching in the last two, the Angels went with the same guy who closed things out in Saturday’s 11-inning win. Andriese took over for starter Andrew Heaney with the team leading 4-3 after seven-and-a-half innings in Colorado. The 31-year-old retired all six batters faced, including four strikeouts, to pick up his second save.

Andriese’s performance at Coors Field certainly could put him in the mix for save chances over the last two weeks of the season. But he’s also just fortunate to still be on the roster after he allowed 13 earned runs in his first 15.2 innings in 2020. He’s recovered since, though, allowing only one run over his last 9.2 innings.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

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.