Bullpen Report: April 12, 2021

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

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 28 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Hendriks’ first home appearance as a member of the White Sox didn’t go as planned, with Carlos Santana crushing a leadoff homer in the ninth, tying the game and saddling Hendriks with a blown save. Hendriks allowed another hit in the inning but also struck out two, with his fastball up to 98, so there shouldn’t be much concern here.

In the event that Hendriks is unavailable on Monday, Garrett Crochet, Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall are the likeliest to take his place if a save opportunity presents itself.

•Greg Holland, KCR: 26 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Holland is currently in a closer committee with Jesse Hahn, and was called on to pitch in the eighth after Hahn gave up a go-ahead home run to Adam Eaton, sandwiched between two walks. Holland ended up with two efficient innings, walking two but allowing no hits on the 26 pitches. Hahn could serve as closer on Monday if Holland is unavailable, though considering his poor performance Sunday, so could Josh Staumont, Scott Barlow or Kyle Zimmer (more on him below).

•Alex Colomé, MIN: 17 pitches on Sunday; 24 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Colomé is almost definitely unavailable on Monday after throwing 41 pitches over the weekend, giving up four runs in just 1.1 innings. Taylor Rogers and Hansel Robles are the likeliest options to earn a save if one is up for grabs on Monday, and may be in the mix beyond then anyway (more on that in the Losing A Grip section).

•Rafael Montero, SEA:  9 pitches on Sunday; 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Montero was much more efficient on Sunday, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth to earn a save after blowing a save in the eighth inning the day before. 31 pitches in two days isn’t sure to make Montero unavailable, but this early in this season it’s definitely possible. Kendall Graveman and Anthony Misiewicz would be next in line for a save chance, with Keynan Middleton also possible.

•Diego Castillo, TBR: 27 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Castillo was able to get five scoreless outs on his 27 pitches, walking one and allowing just one hit, so he was efficient. But 27 pitches is a lot for a closer to bear nonetheless, so Castillo may well be unavailable on Monday. In the ever-enigmatic Rays bullpen, just about anyone could pick up a save, although Ryan Thompson, Andrew Kittredge and Cody Reed are the likeliest.

•Will Smith, ATL: 14 pitches on Sunday; 10 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Smith isn’t sure to be unavailable after 24 pitches in two days, but pitching for three straight days this early in the season could be tall order for the lefty, whose job should be secure despite already taking two losses this season. A.J. Minter, Tyler Matzek and Luke Jackson are the likeliest fill-in options if Smith is down for the day.

•Mark Melancon, SDP: 13 pitches on Sunday; 17 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Melancon has been excellent for his new team so far, picking up saves on back-to-back days to give him five already, and he’s yet to allow an earned run. 30 pitches in two days probably makes the veteran righty unavailable for Monday, though. Emilio Pagán (30 pitches on Sunday) is almost definitely unavailable as well, which makes Drew Pomeranz and Keone Kela likeliest to fill in for Melancon.

Injury News

•Archie Bradley, PHI: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained oblique). | RosterResource

While not the Phillies’ closer (that’s Héctor Neris), Bradley was set to serve a key role in Philadelphia’s bullpen, starting out well enough with two scoreless appearances. In his last two appearances, however, the big righty has allowed two runs in 1.2 innings, allowing hits to two of three batters faced on Saturday (during which time the injury presumably occurred), taking the loss.

Oblique injuries have varying degrees and are notoriously fickle, but at absolute best Bradley is probably looking at two weeks before being activated. In the meantime, Connor Brogdon and Brandon Kintzler should move into setup roles along with José Alvarado.

•Reyes Moronta, SFG: Placed on 10-Day IL (flexor strain). | RosterResource

The Giants’ closer situation was very fluid entering the season, though Jake McGee has taken the role for himself and run with it, racking up four saves in 5.1 hitless innings with 7 strikeouts. Nonetheless, Moronta was set to be a big part of San Francisco’s late-inning corps and responded accordingly, with four innings of one-hit, one-run ball, with two strikeouts and no walks.

Flexor strains are almost never short-term injuries, and are especially troubling for someone like Moronta, who missed all of 2020 after undergoing shoulder surgery. Another major arm injury could lead to another lost season for the righty, who’s started his career with a 2.65 ERA in 132.1 innings.

In Moronta’s stead, fellow righty Tyler Rogers ought to see even more meaningful innings and if Matt Wisler (six runs, five outs) can get his season on track, he will as well. José Álvarez, Wandy Peralta and Jarlin García are options from the left side.

Outlier Saves

•Kyle Zimmer, KCR| RosterResource

The former top prospect picked up his first career save on Sunday, working around the extra-innings auto-runner with two strikeouts and a groundout. Zimmer has now thrown 6.1 scoreless innings this year with seven strikeouts, and after 23 innings of 1.57 ERA pitching in 2020, should be firmly in Mike Matheny’s circle of trust. He (along with Barlow and Staumont) could work himself into the closer mix as well, especially with Holland and Hahn off to slow starts.

 

Committee Clarity

None

 

Losing A Grip

•Alex Colomé, MIN | RosterResource

Manager Rocco Baldelli’s plan was always to deploy a very flexible bullpen, although Colomé has picked up both of the team’s saves so far. Colomé pitched the eighth on Saturday, giving up a run on two hits, before blowing his second save of the season on Sunday by serving up a go-ahead home run to Kyle Seager.

Taylor Rogers and Hansel Robles (neither has allowed an earned run this season) serve to benefit most from Colomé’s shakiness, though with the fluidity of Minnesota’s bullpen situation, Colomé may well continue to earn saves if, for example, Rogers is deployed earlier in the game against the middle of the opposing order.