Bullpen Report: September 29, 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

•Alex Colomé, MIN: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar, Juan Minaya and Jorge Alcala are all options for a save.

•Will Smith, ATL: Three of last four days; 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and Richard Rodríguez are far likelier than Smith to be available Wednesday. The Braves have a division title to lock down, though, and may make Smith available until that happens.

•Carlos Estévez, COL: 9 pitches on Tuesday; 23 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Estévez’s availability could go either way on Wednesday. If he’s out, Daniel Bard or Jhoulys Chacín could step in to close.

•David Bednar, PIT: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Chris Stratton, who closed out Pittsburgh’s Tuesday win, should be available to pitch again Wednesday.

Injury News

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Was unavailable on Tuesday (knee). | RosterResource

The Astros didn’t have a save opportunity before their walk-off win against the Rays, so perhaps Pressly wouldn’t have pitched anyway. But manager Dusty Baker noted after the game that Pressly’s knee was bothering him (presumably the same knee that he had arthroscopic surgery on in 2019). Kendall Graveman is on paternity leave right now, so the Astros’ top closing option is Ryne Stanek for as long as Pressly is sidelined.

•Andrew Kittredge, TBR: Activated from 10-day IL (neck tightness) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Kittredge’s neck only needed the minimum ten days to heal, which is great news for the Rays with the playoffs just around the corner. Even after allowing a run in his first inning back on Tuesday, the righty’s ERA stands at a sterling 1.66. Kittredge pitched the sixth on Tuesday for the Rays’ ever-fluid bullpen, but should remain the top pick for saves for the Rays’ last handful of regular season games and into the postseason.

Outlier Saves

•Blake Treinen, LAD | RosterResource

Dave Roberts said that Kenley Jansen was available on Tuesday, but didn’t pitch with a two-run lead in an effort to keep him fresh. Assuming Roberts isn’t being coy about an actual injury or fatigue, Treinen was just the substitute closer, as he’s often been. He allowed a solo home run to Jake Cronenworth but was able to hold the lead for his seventh save of the year.

•Camilo Doval, SFG | RosterResource

The Giants have been piecing together the ninth inning with Jake McGee (oblique) on the IL, but Tuesday represented Doval’s first crack at closing. He pounded strikes, with only three balls in 15 pitches, making for a rather low-stress first career save. Doval hasn’t allowed a single run this month in 11.1 innings, walking just three of 41 opponents.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE for the full Closer Depth Chart.