Bullpen Report: September 27, 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

•Scott Barlow, KCR: 28 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Josh Staumont on Jake Brentz should both be available for a save chance on Monday if Barlow isn’t.

•Andrew Chafin, OAK: Four of last five days; 21 pitches on Sunday; 9 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Righties Sergio Romo and Lou Trivino and lefty Jake Diekman are the likeliest closers Monday.

•Paul Sewald, SEA: Three of last four days; 13 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Co-closers Diego Castillo and Drew Steckenrider should both be available Monday.

Injury News

•David Bednar, PIT: Activated from 10-day IL (strained oblique) on Sunday. | RosterResource

Bednar’s oblique strain was perhaps the most mild you’ll ever see, keeping him on the IL only 12 days and allowing him to return before the season ends. Bednar worked in a setup role on Sunday, pitching the 7th inning. It was more of the same from Bednar, whose inning was scoreless en route to lowering his ERA to 2.15. If the Pirates have any save chances over their last seven games, Bednar should be first in line, although Chris Stratton remains an option.

Outlier Saves

•Nick Anderson, TBR | RosterResource

It feels odd to call Anderson, who allowed just one earned run in 16.1 innings last year, an “outlier closer” but he simply hasn’t pitched in very high-leverage situations since he’s worked his way back from a partial elbow ligament tear. Anderson’s velocity has been down, sitting at more like 92-94 instead of the upper-90s heat we’d been accustomed to seeing from his fully-intact arm. That’s led to a major downtick in results; he’s struck out only one of 24 batters faced since his activation from the IL. Nonetheless, Anderson escaped with a save, allowing a solo homer to Lewin Díaz but nothing else.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE for the full Closer Depth Chart.