Bullpen Report: September 3, 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

Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 18 pitches on Thursday; 12 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Nick Wittgren, Bryan Shaw and Blake Parker should all be available for a save chance on Friday if Clase isn’t.

Injury News

Lou Trivino, OAK: Has been out with back spasms. | RosterResource

Trivino was expected to be available on Thursday, though he ultimately didn’t pitch. It’s unclear if his back flared up again or if Bob Melvin and company simply elected to give him another day. The A’s recently pivoted to a closer-by-committee after Trivino’s recent struggles, and Sergio Romo earned the save Thursday.

Outlier Saves

Garrett Richards, BOS | RosterResource

It would be quite the understatement to say that Boston’s bullpen is understaffed, with Matt Barnes, Martín Pérez, and Hirokazu Sawamura all down with COVID-19, and Josh Taylor is on the IL as well, having been identified as a close contact to at least one of the Red Sox’ numerous cases. That leaves Adam Ottavino, Garrett Whitlock and Richards as the three top options in the bullpen, with Ottavino serving as closer. But Richards was so impressive over his first two innings of work that Alex Cora stuck with him for the ninth with a four-run lead, and he earned his second three-inning save of the season in the process.

Richards struggled mightily in the aftermath of the foreign substance crackdown but has been excellent since being bumped to the bullpen, allowing just one earned run in 13.1 innings, with 16 strikeouts to only three walks.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.





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