Bullpen Report: September 6, 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.

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).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Kenley Jansen, BOS: Three straight days; 13 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Chris Martin has worked back-to-back days, but on just 26 pitches total, so he should be available.

•Carlos Estévez, LAA: 22 pitches on Tuesday; 14 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Aaron Loup, José Soriano, and Andrew Wantz should all be available.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 21 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

The Cardinals are trying to avoid using Helsley in back-to-back games, so he could be unavailable Wednesday, especially after 21 pitches. Giovanny Gallegos is the likeliest to close, though his rough Tuesday gives him an ugly 4.59 ERA for the year.

Injury News

•JoJo Romero, STL: Placed on the 15-day IL (patellar tendonitis) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Romero hasn’t pitched since Friday, so his IL stint could be backdated to Saturday, making him eligible to return on the 17th. The Cardinals are hoping that’s all he’ll need, but in the meantime the Cardinals’ closing situation is in a bit of flux. Ryan Helsley looked just fine in locking down Tuesday’s win in his second game off the IL, but Oliver Marmól said before the game that the team would rather not use Helsley in back-to-back games, which complicates things. Everyone else in the bullpen has an ERA above 4.00, so the team might just piece things together when Helsley isn’t available, with Giovanny Gallegos, Andre Pallante, and Drew VerHagen the leading candidates. John King is an option from the left side.

Outlier Saves

•Shintaro Fujinami, BAL | RosterResource

Brandon Hyde stayed away from Yennier Cano after 30 pitches between Sunday and Monday, and while it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride without him, the O’s got the job done. DL Hall blew his save chance in the ninth but Fujinami dominated in the tenth, throwing just nine pitches and striking out two for his second save of the season.

Committee Clarity

•Tyler Kinley, COL | RosterResource

I wrote about Justin Lawrence in the Losing A Grip section on Monday, and he indeed wasn’t the choice to protect a one-run lead against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Kinley retired the side in order on eight pitches for his second save of the year, and his first “planned” save, as his other was bailing Lawrence out a few days ago. There’s been no direct indication that Lawrence has lost the closing job entirely, but it sure appears he’s in a bit of a reset period, which might make Kinley the top choice for saves right now.

Losing A Grip

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