Bullpen Report: September 6, 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

•Alex Colomé, CHW: Back-to-back days; 9 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

It was surprising that Colome pitched on Saturday after throwing 40 pitches on Friday. It’s unlikely that he’ll be available again on Sunday, meaning that Evan Marshall is a candidate for a save chance.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 26 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

If Diaz is unavailable on Sunday, Justin Wilson and Miguel Castro are candidates for a save chance. Both threw 15 pitches on Saturday.

•Anthony Bass, TOR: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 18 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Rafael Dolis is a candidate for a save chance on Sunday.

 

Injury News

•Andrew Miller, STL: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

In his first game back after a 12-day stint on the Injured List, Miller pitched a perfect seventh to close out a 5-1 win in the second game of the Cardinals’ double-header sweep over the Cubs.

•Ken Giles, TOR: Transferred to 45-Day IL. | RosterResource

Giles continues to work his way back from an elbow injury, but the earliest he can now return is September 10. He could be activated on that day or soon thereafter.

 

Outlier Saves

•Yohan Ramirez, SEA | RosterResource

The Rule 5 pick continues to pitch sporadically with at least four days of rest prior to a majority of his nine appearances. But in the last two, he picked up his first and second MLB saves. With Yoshihisa Hirano likely unavailable after a high pitch count on Friday, the Mariners went to Ramirez in the ninth with a three-run lead over the Rangers. After allowing a leadoff homer to Shin-Soo Choo, the 25-year-old retired Derek Dietrich, Ronald Guzmán, and Joey Gallo in order.

While there is no doubt that Ramirez has the potential to be a big league closer, the Mariners all of a sudden are playing well — they have won four games in a row — and might not want to rely on a pitcher who has as many walks as innings pitched.

 

Committee Clarity

•José Cisnero, DET | RosterResource

As mentioned here yesterday after Gregory Soto’s blown save, the Tigers would likely go with a different committee member for the team’s next save chance. That save chance came on Saturday with the team leading the Twins 3-2 in the ninth inning. Cisnero, who came into the game with a 1.37 ERA, 5 holds, and a 10.1 K/9, got a much-deserved opportunity to earn his first MLB save. He failed, however, as the Twins walked it off after scoring two runs on three hits and a walk.

•Ty Buttrey and Felix Peña, LAA | RosterResource

Peña and Buttrey were named co-closers before Friday’s game, which was followed by Buttrey blowing a three-run lead in the ninth. With a chance to separate himself on Saturday, Peña couldn’t hold a one-run lead in game one of the double-header. He allowed three runs, but got the win after the Angels scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

After the Angels took a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning of game two, Buttrey got a chance to redeem himself. He pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to pick up his fifth save of the season.

In the meantime, Mike Mayers has not allowed an earned run in 16 of his 18 appearances. He could soon force manager Joe Maddon to expand his group of closers to three.

•Tony Watson, SFG | RosterResource

The Giants used seven relievers in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Caleb Baragar got the win. Five others got a hold. The 35-year-old Watson closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of 2020.

 

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.