Bullpen Report: September 3rd, 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.
- 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.
- Injury News
- Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
- Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
- 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
•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 7 pitches on Saturday, back-t0-back days. | RosterResource
Clase is the type to throw often because he is dominant and keeps his pitch counts low with each appearance. However, he has thrown in four of the last five games and will likely need a rest on Sunday. If that is the case, Trevor Stephan and Reynaldo López should be available.
•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 21 pitches on Saturday, back-t0-back days. | RosterResource
The Twins bullpen looks a little overused as of late. Griffin Jax has thrown in back-to-back days, but he’s kept his pitch counts low and may still be available. Otherwise, the Twins will have to bring in middle relievers like Dylan Floro or Kody Funderburk in later innings.
•Devin Williams, MIL: 24 pitches on Saturday, back-t0-back days. | RosterResource
Joel Payamps and Elvis Peguero should both be available should Williams need rest on Sunday.
•David Bednar, PIT: 24 pitches on Saturday, back-t0-back days. | RosterResource
Setup men Colin Holderman and Carmen Mlodzinski should be good to go on Sunday.
•Justin Lawrence, COL: 28 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource
Tyler Kinley, who recorded a save last night, and Brent Suter should be available.
Injury News
•Jason Adam, TBR | RosterResource
Oblique strains are tricky injuries. Adam, who has 12 saves, 11 holds, and a sub-three ERA on the year has been a sneaky good fantasy player in leagues that record holds. While Pete Fairbanks has been the closer holding down the role, Adam’s injury could shift those holds and extra save opportunities to Colin Poche or possibly Robert Stephenson, a “Reliever on the Rise”. Keep an eye on how the work gets distributed in the Rays pen, it could be an opportunity to add a few more saves, holds, or even wins as the season winds down.
Jason Adam was not available for #Rays, he is going on the IL with an oblique strain
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 3, 2023
Outlier Saves
•Nick Pivetta, BOS | RosterResource
Entering the game with a five-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, Pivetta was likely being asked to go the rest of the game to give the bullpen more rest, even though the Red Sox bullpen hasn’t been utilized much in the last few days. Regardless, go the rest of the game Pivetta did, giving up one run on a solo home run by MJ Melendez in the bottom of the ninth. Due to his three innings of work, Pivetta was awarded the save. He’s bounced back and forth between starter and reliever this season, but his reliever stats look better:
| SP / RP | IP | ERA | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Starter | 56.2 | 5.88 | 10.64 | 3.81 | 2.06 |
| As Reliever | 55.2 | 3.07 | 12.61 | 3.40 | 1.13 |
Even with those good reliever stats, Pivetta hasn’t had much fantasy juice this season as Saturday’s appearance marked his first save and he only has two holds.
•Tyler Kinley, COL | RosterResource
With a three-run lead in the top of the ninth at home, Justin Lawrence came trotting out of the bullpen to close out the game on Saturday. He started off by walking George Springer and then giving up an RBI triple to Davis Schneider. After recording a quick two outs, Lawrence threw the ball away and Scheider scored from third on a wild pitch. He then walked the next two batters and hit Daulton Varsho to load the bases. With a one-run lead, two outs, and the bases loaded, Tyler Kinley came in and struck out Spencer Horwitz swinging to end the game and claim the save. It was his first of the year.
Kinley was recently activated from the IL, only has six innings on the season, and is a 32-year-old righty who throws a 96 MPH fastball with a changeup and a slider. I wouldn’t be running to the waiver wire to claim Kinley, but I would keep an eye on Lawrence to see if he can rebound from this meltdown of an appearance.