Bullpen Report: September 20, 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.
- 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.
- Injury News
- Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
- Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
- 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
•None
Injury News
•Rowan Wick, CHC: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained oblique). | RosterResource
Wick is done for the regular season and possibly the entire postseason. There are several good candidates to fill the void, however, including Jason Adam (0 R in last 5 IP), Ryan Tepera (28 K in 18.2 IP), and Duane Underwood Jr. ( 0 R in last 7.2 IP). They also activated Andrew Chafin from the Injured List on Saturday, giving them a lefty with late-inning experience.
•Rafael Dolis, TOR: Removed from Friday’s game with knee discomfort. | RosterResource
Dolis’ injury does not appear to be serious.
Good news for #BlueJays as Rafael Dolis is “fine” after experiencing right knee discomfort Friday per manager Charlie Montoyo.
Jays still unlikely to use Dolis today. Anthony Bass could close if needed.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) September 19, 2020
Outlier Saves
•Tommy Hunter, PHI | RosterResource
As expected, the Phillies stayed away from Héctor Neris on Saturday due to recent workload. But instead of using one of their next most effective relievers in a save situation, Blake Parker and David Phelps pitched scoreless seventh and eight innings, respectively, with their team up by one run. After the Phillies added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, the 34-year-old Hunter pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Committee Clarity
•Bryan Garcia, DET | RosterResource
While Garcia has seemingly taken hold of the closer’s job, he’s done so without much fanfare due to his lack of strikeouts — only seven through 19 innings — which were recently surpassed by his walk total after he issued three bases on balls in his last appearance. But the 25-year-old might have some swing-and-miss ability after all. He struck out the side on Saturday to secure his third save. He hasn’t allowed a run in 22 of 24 appearances, which is also kind of important.
•Mike Mayers, LAA | RosterResource
There was no save situation for the Angels in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Rangers. But that’s only because manager Joe Maddon left Mayers in the game to let him finish his own win after he pitched a scoreless top of the eighth and his team took the lead in the bottom half.
If anything, it’s a good sign that Maddon does acknowledge that the 28-year-old Mayers is his best relief pitcher, which shouldn’t be a surprise at all except that he hasn’t been used as the closer. After retiring all six batters he faced on Saturday, Mayers’ ERA is down to 1.80 with 36 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.
•Génesis Cabrera, STL | RosterResource
It’s not certain whether Cabrera was brought in for a five-out save in Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Pirates. But after the lefty struck out both batters he faced to close out the eighth, manager Mike Shildt didn’t want to mess with a good thing so he left him in to finish things out in the ninth and pick up his 2nd career MLB save.
The 23-year-old lefty has been wild in 2020, walking 14 batters in 18.2 innings. But he’s struck out 28 and has a respectable 2.89 ERA. So while he’s not always going to be the most reliable option to close out a win, he seemed in control in his latest outing.
•Ryan Thompson, TBR | RosterResource
As I boldly predicted in yesterday’s Bullpen Report, the Rays’ 12th pitcher to pick up a save in 2020 would be one of their three leaders in appearances. In his 23rd appearance of the season, Thompson finally got a save chance. The 28-year-old rookie retired both batters he faced to close out a 3-1 win over the Orioles.
Losing A Grip
•None