Bullpen Report: September 8, 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.

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

•Alex Colomé, MIN: Three straight days; 17 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Tyler Duffey and Juan Minaya are likeliest for a save chance if one arises on Wednesday.

•Paul Sewald, SEA: 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Diego Castillo and Drew Steckenrider should both be available on Wednesday.

Injury News

•Tyler Clippard, ARI: Placed on COVID-related IL (COVID-like symptoms). | RosterResource

For now, there’s no word that Clippard has actually tested positive for COVID-19, fortunately. Provided that he never tests positive and feels better quickly, he could be back in a matter of days. Clippard has been solid for the Diamondbacks when healthy, throwing only 17 innings but pitching up five saves and allowing just five runs.

The Diamondbacks will mix-and-match as best they can with Clippard out. J.B. Wendelken, Taylor Widener and Noé Ramirez are options from the right side, with Caleb Smith and Joe Mantiply representing southpaw possibilities.

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•David Bednar and Chris Stratton, PIT | RosterResource

Bednar’s picked up three saves since closer Richard Rodríguez was traded to Atlanta at the deadline, and Stratton equaled him on Tuesday. Bednar pitched the eighth instead, with 3-4-5 in due up for the Tigers. As such, it appears that Bednar is the fireman as much as he is the closer, tasked with getting the most difficult high-leverage outs rather than being saved for the end of games no matter what. It seems like that will often lead to an equal opportunity for Stratton, not that there will be all that many for the last-place Pirates down the stretch.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.