Bullpen Report: September 15, 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. 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

•Gregory Soto, DET: 27 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Michael Fulmer and Kyle Funkhouser are the best bets for a save on Wednesday.

•Scott Barlow, KCR: 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Domingo Tapia and Josh Staumont should both be good to throw on Wednesday if Barlow isn’t.

•Alex Colomé, MIN: 11 pitches on Tuesday; 27 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Tyler Duffey threw 38 pitches on Monday, so he may need Wednesday off as well. That leaves Juan Minaya, Jorge Alcala and Caleb Thielbar as the best bets for a save on Wednesday.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Seven pitches on Tuesday; 23 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Chad Green should be available for a save chance on Wednesday if Chapman can’t go a third straight.

•Drew Steckenrider, SEA: 24 pitches on Tuesday; 12 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Co-closers Paul Sewald and Diego Castillo didn’t pitch Tuesday and should be available Wednesday.

•Josh Hader, MIL: 32 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Devin Williams and Brad Boxberger are both options for a save on Wednesday.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Three of last four days; 15 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Alex Reyes has also pitched three of four days and may not be available Wednesday either. That leaves Luis García and T.J. McFarland as the best options.

Injury News

•David Bednar, PIT: Placed on the 10-Day IL (strained oblique) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

This injury seems likelier than not to end Bednar’s season with under three weeks left in the campaign, as even the most mild of oblique strains keep players out of action for a month or so. If so, it closes the book on a brilliant first year as a Pirate for the Pittsburgh native, who struck out 73 batters in 57.2 IP (33%) with seventeen walks and an ERA of 2.18. Bednar also picked up three saves once Richard Rodríguez was traded to Atlanta.

With Bednar out, Chris Stratton figures to get the lion’s share of the save chances, and earned his fifth of the year on Tuesday. Chasen Shreve is an option from the left side, and Chad Kuhl (typically a starter) has gotten high-leverage work since coming off the Injured List.

Outlier Saves

•Kwang Hyun Kim 김광현, STL | RosterResource

The Cardinals exhausted all of their late-inning arms by the time they took the lead in the 11th, with Génesis Cabrera, Luis García, Giovanny Gallegos, and Alex Reyes all having been used (T.J. McFarland was likely unavailable after pitching four of five days prior to Tuesday). So, it was the former starter Kim brought in to hold the three-run lead. Things got hairy, as Kim allowed a one-out RBI double and then made a throwing error with two outs to allow a second run to score. But he ultimately stranded Jeff McNeil in scoring position to end the game to earn his second career save and first of the year.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.