Bullpen Report: April 11, 2021

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

•Will Smith, ATL: 3 of last 4 days; 10 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

A.J. Minter, Luke Jackson, and Nate Jones are likely candidates for a save chance on Sunday if Smith is not available.

•Alex Colomé, MIN: 24 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Taylor Rogers is a likely candidate for a save chance on Sunday if Colomé is not available.

•Rafael Montero, SEA: 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman is a likely candidate for a save chance on Sunday if Montero is not available.

•Jake McGee, SFG: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 16 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Tyler Rogers and Reyes Moronta are likely candidates for a save chance on Sunday if McGee is not available.

 

Injury News

•Chris Martin, ATL: Placed on 10-Day IL (shoulder inflammation). | RosterResource

Martin could be out longer than his IL stint, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Prior to his injury, it seemed that Martin could share the closer’s role with Will Smith. Now, Smith is the clear candidate for save opportunities while Martin is on the shelf.

Snitker wasn’t optimistic about Chris Martin being activated when he becomes eligible on April 17. He says the shoulder wasn’t much of a concern until Martin threw yesterday.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 10, 2021

 

Outlier Saves

•Matt Andriese, BOS | RosterResource

Matt Barnes came into a tied 9th inning and came out with a win as the Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 10th. Barnes recorded a pair of strikeouts on 17 pitches and showed that he is still the best arm for the job. This was just a simple use of that best arm in a high-leverage situation. Andriese did throw a clean bottom of the 10th on only 11 pitches.

•Keynan Middleton, SEA | RosterResource

Montero and Graveman had already pitched in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, so it was Middleton who got the call once the Mariners took the lead in the top of the tenth. The 27-year-old pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close out the 4-3 win over the Twins and pick up his first save since he had six for the Angels in 2018.

•Tommy Milone, TOR | RosterResource

A laugher in Florida led to Milone recording a three-inning, 42-pitch save. Milone kept the Angels’ bats quiet, giving up only one hit and recording six strikeouts.

 

Committee Clarity

•Yimi García, MIA | RosterResource

It’s worth noting Garcia’s save on Saturday, given the fact that Anthony Bass has been shaky so far this season and manager Don Mattingly said before Saturday’s game that he’d feel comfortable using Garcia, Dylan Floro, or Richard Bleier in a save situation.

Sounds like Anthony Bass isn’t the Marlins closer at the moment based on Mattingly’s comments this morning. I would expect someone else to get the next Save opportunity.

— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) April 10, 2021

 

 

Losing A Grip

•Rafael Montero, SEA | RosterResource

Montero entered with a one-run lead in the eighth inning on Saturday. It’s not clear if the plan was to have him pitch two innings or if Graveman was going to pitch the ninth inning in a save opportunity. In any case, Montero couldn’t hold the lead, his second blown save in three chances, while Graveman followed with a scoreless ninth to send the game into the extra innings.

It’s still early and the 30-year-old Montero has looked good in two of his four appearances thus far. But the emergence of Graveman, who has been terrific since shifting to a relief role in 2020, is the main reason why the Mariners’ closer situation is not clear at the moment.