Bullpen Report: September 24th, 2023

The 2023 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Yennier Cano, BAL: 6 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Cionel Pérez earned the save on Saturday after Cano got the last two outs in the eighth. Pérez is likely to appear again on Sunday but if not, the O’s will have to go with shakey as of late Danny Coulombe, or Shintaro Fujinami.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 19 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Jordan Hicks and Erik Swanson are candidates to appear in a save situation on Sunday. Romano may need a few extra days to recover from a split fingernail.

•Bryan Shaw, CHW: 19 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Closer committee members Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crochet should be available.

•Carlos Estévez, LAA: 18 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Estévez could potentially go again on Sunday, but if he needs rest, either Jimmy Herget or Ben Joyce are likely to appear.

•Trevor May, OAK: 28 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Both Dany Jiménez and Lucas Erceg have appeared in back-to-back days. That leaves the Athletics with the likes of Francisco Pérez and Adrián Martínez.

•Julian Merryweather, CHC: 23 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Mark Leiter Jr. and Drew Smyly should be available.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 30 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

John King is the most likely to appear in place of Helsley on Sunday should he need a day off.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Jose Cuas, CHC | RosterResource

Closer Julian Merryweather was brought in at the start of the eighth inning to keep the Cubs lead intact. While he did give up two walks and a double, he kept runners from scoring with three swinging strikeouts. When, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Cubs added two more runs to increase the lead to three, Cuas was called in to close out the game. He did so with a groundout, a flyout, and a swinging strikeout, though he did give up a walk. It was his first save with the Cubs and second save of his young MLB career.

•Carmen Mlodzinski, PIT | RosterResource

Pirates closer David Bednar had thrown 20-plus pitches in each of the two days prior to Saturday’s contest against the Reds. With the Reds pushing with all they had to earn a wild-card spot, the Pirates needed someone to close the door in the ninth with a two-run lead. It was up to the 24-year-old rookie righty to do so. Mlodzinski had blown a save once back in June, but since that day (6/24) his ERA has held steady at 1.55.

Things looked iffy when the first two batters Mlodzinski faced made it to second and third with a single and a double. When the runner from third scored on a ground-out, the potential for another blown save was in the air, especially so since Elly De La Cruz was the next batter to step into the box. Things were different this time, however, Mlodzinski stood his ground and struck out the other rookie swinging. With the winning run stepping into the box, Mlodzinski stayed locked in and forced a Jonathan India fly-ball out to end the game and record his first career big league save. Mlodzinski will have to move his 2023 4.28 BB/9 way down if he is to be fantasy-relevant in 2024, but the experience he is gaining in the back end of the bullpen in his rookie year could be a sign of potential value next season.