Bullpen Report: September 5, 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.

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five 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.

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

•Adam Ottavino, BOS: 27 pitches on Saturday, three of last four days. | RosterResource

Co-closer Garrett Whitlock or second up, Garrett Richards, could fill in for Ottavino on Sunday if he is unavailable.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: 28 pitches on Saturday, three of last four days. | RosterResource

Jonathan Loaisiga or Chad Green could see save opportunities on Sunday if Chapman is unavailable.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 13 pitches on Saturday, three of last four days. | RosterResource

Tim Mayza or Adam Cimber could fill in for Romano if he needs rest.

•Kyle Finnegan, WSH: 41 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Finnegan is almost certainly unavailable on Sunday after appearing in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader. Either Andres Machado or Austin Voth could see save opportunities on Sunday.

•Mychal Givens, CIN: 11 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Co-closer Michael Lorenzen is most likely to fill in for Givens if he is unavailable on Sunday.

•Chris Stratton, PIT: 32 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Co-closer David Bednar should be the man to see the save chance on Sunday if Stratton needs rest.

•Carlos Estévez, COL: 10 pitches on Saturday, three of last four days. | RosterResource

#BacktoBard in Colorado as former closer Daniel Bard should be given the save chance if one comes up on Sunday and Estévez is unavailable.

 

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Dietrich Enns, TBR | RosterResource

This week’s edition of ‘Tampa Bay Rays Outlier Saves’ is brought to you by Dietrich Enns. His three-inning performance earned a save and makes him the 13th reliever with a save recorded and the eighth reliever on the team with one save on the season. Enns is 30 years old and his 12 innings in 2021 don’t make it likely we’ll see him take over the closer role anytime soon. This is, however, just another example of the Rays being such a unique team and finding ways to squeeze value out of players, particularly bullpen arms, that may have been passed over by other organizations.

•Heath Hembree, NYM | RosterResource

There was a time this season where it looked like Hembree was the closer in Cincinnati. He was designated for assignment by the Reds in mid-August and claimed by the Mets. Hembree came into extra innings in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday to record the save. While it was Seth Lugo who originally came in to close out the game in the seventh with the Mets up by two, the Nationals tied the game and forced it into extra innings. Hembree pitched a clean ninth inning with one strikeout. It’s likely Hembree will continue to see save opportunities when the regulars need rest as he recorded eight saves with the Reds in 2021. Hembree could be a nice reliever stream option when it looks like he’s lined up to fill in for a save opportunity.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing a Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.