Bullpen Report: September 4, 2020

The 2020 version of Bullpen Report includes six 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.
6. Reliever On The Rise: Non-closer who is quickly moving up the depth chart based on potential and recent performance.

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

•Felix Peña, LAA: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 9 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Peña appears to be gaining traction in the Angels’ closer battle, but he might have to take a day off on Friday. Ty Buttrey, Cam Bedrosian, and Mike Mayers could all be in the mix for a save chance.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 32 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

An overworked bullpen might have to go back to Diaz again after he threw 32 pitches on Thursday. If they want a fresh reliever to close out the game on Friday — Miguel Castro, Jeurys Familia, and Justin Wilson all had high pitch counts on Thursday — Brad Brach might be the most likely candidate.

•Daniel Hudson, WSN: 28 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Tanner Rainey has gone back-to-back days, but only 31 pitches total. He should be available for a save chance on Friday, as well as Sean Doolittle.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Felix Peña and Ty Buttrey, LAA | RosterResource

As mentioned in yesterday’s “Losing A Grip”, Buttrey’s hold on the closer’s job could be loosening despite pitching decently over the past month. Quite simply, he probably hasn’t established himself as the team’s closer of 2021 while Peña and Mayers have earned an opportunity to prove that they can be.

On Thursday, the 30-year-old Peña pitched a perfect inning against the heart of the Padres’ batting order to close out a 2-0 win and earn his second career MLB save. His numbers have been terrific all season (19.1 IP, 4 ER, 14 H, 4 BB, 23 K), while Mayers has been nearly perfect since allowing four runs in his third appearance. Over his last 10 innings of work, he’s allowed just one earned run while striking out 15. Both pitchers are under team control through the 2023 season.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Reliever On The Rise

Early in the season, picking out a “Reliever On The Rise” was a simple task with several options to choose from each day. Not so much over the last few weeks, though. Most of the breakout relievers have already been identified. As a result, this section will highlight a pitcher or two only once per week through the end of the season.