Bullpen Report: September 23, 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.

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

•Mike Mayers, LAA: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 20 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Felix Peña would be the leading candidate to get a save chance on Wednesday, but he threw 25 pitches on Tuesday. Matt Andriese might be a better bet.

•Héctor Neris, PHI: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

After the Phillies were swept in Tuesday’s double-header and fell behind in the race for the final playoff spot, it’s likely that Neris will be available on Wednesday. If not, Blake Parker and David Phelps could be candidates for a save chance.

•Daniel Hudson, WSN: Back-to-back days; 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Will Harris is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday.

 

Injury News

•Rafael Dolis, TOR: Unavailable on Tuesday due to knee discomfort. | RosterResource

Dolis hasn’t pitched since being removed from Friday’s game with knee discomfort. While it was thought to be a minor issue, he was still unavailable as of Tuesday.

It could be that the Blue Jays are being overly cautious, considering that they have a comfortable lead for the last playoff spot and don’t have much of a chance to catch the seventh seed. Allowing their best relief pitcher to rest as long as possible seems like a smart move.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Sam Coonrod, SFG | RosterResource

As ugly as Coonrod’s numbers are in 2020 (13.2 IP, 11 ER, 12 H, 6 BB, 14 K), he’s probably still the leading candidate from the Giants’ committee to emerge as the primary closer in 2021. On Tuesday, the 28-year-old finished off a perfect ninth inning with a 100 MPH fastball to strike out Raimel Tapia and close out a 5-2 win over the Rockies.

A starter throughout his minor league career until Tommy John surgery knocked him out of action in 2018, Coonrod returned as a relief pitcher last season. He has shown flashes of dominance, but has been inconsistent as he continues to mix in several pitches to go along with his high-nineties fastball. Looking forward, he might need to pare down his arsenal of pitches and focus on trying to be very good with only two or three.

 

Losing A Grip

•None