Bullpen Report: September 26, 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.

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five 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

•Pete Fairbanks, TBR: 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Collin McHugh threw 33 pitches on Saturday and is also on “High Usage Alert”. Shall we try to guess who in the Rays bullpen is likely to fill in or should we just pick a name out of a hat? Both David Robertson and JT Chargois are candidates for save opportunities if Fairbanks and McHugh need rest.

•Mychal Givens, CIN: 11 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Setup men Michael Lorenzen and Lucas Sims join Givens on the “High Usage Alert” list making either Luis Cessa or Amir Garrett the two candidates who are more rested. Tyler Mahle is the starter today for Cincinnati and they’ll hope he goes long enough to save some bullpen arms.

•Josh Hader, MIL: 19 pitches on Saturday, back-t0-back days. | RosterResource

The Brewers are hopeful Devin Williams will return to action on Sunday after nursing a calf issue. If he is still not ready to go, Brad Boxberger is likely to get the save opportunity.

•Mark Melancon, SDP: 18 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Melancon was given the blown save and Daniel Hudson (21 pitches) was given the loss after an Atlanta late-game comeback on Saturday night. If the Padres are in a save situation on Sunday, it will likely be Emilio Pagán who gets the opportunity to close things out.

•Tyler Rogers, SFG: 13 pitches on Saturday, three of the last four. | RosterResource

Heavy usage of the bullpen on Saturday has left Dominic Leone and Tony Watson on “High Usage Alert”, making Jarlín García a likely arm to get some late-inning action on Sunday. It’s also possible Dominic Leone could go again, but the Giants may need to rest a few arms and could be hoping Gausman goes deeper into the game.

 

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Dillon Tate, BAL

Tate got the last out in the eighth inning and then came back out with a two-run lead to close out the game in the ninth. Cole Sulser was likely unavailable after appearing two days in a row and injuries to Tyler Wells and Tanner Scott brought Tate into a closer role on Saturday. Tate threw 22 pitches in the outing, gave up his only hit on a home run to Nate Lowe, and recorded one strikeout.

Tate now has three saves on the year and has shown flashes of promise throughout 2021. His 0.97 HR/9 is better than the league average among qualified relievers in 2021 and his .280 BABIP is just under the average (.288). But, his FIP and xFIP are higher than average, and a 4.59 ERA on the year is over the average mark which currently sits at 4.17. There have been a few bright spots (somewhat bright) in the Orioles bullpen this year, but Tate has the potential to stand out a little more as injuries have sidelined some of his teammates who would otherwise get the call in close situations.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing a Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.