Bullpen Report: April 16, 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: 7 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Setup Man Chris Martin is most likely to fill in for a save situation should Jansen be unavailable on Sunday. John Schreiber is also on “High Usage Alert” with back-t0-back days and 20 pitches on Friday likely putting him in need of rest.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 24 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Romano may be out for longer than one day of rest (see the “Injury News” section below) but for Sunday’s game, Yimi Garcia is the likeliest Toronto reliever to appear in a save situation. Setup man Erik Swanson (19 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days) is probably in need of rest.

• Reynaldo López, CHW: 15 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

The White Sox will be in a bullpen jam on Sunday as López, Kendall Graveman (33 pitches on Saturday), and Jimmy Lambert (13 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days) are all on “High Usage Alert”. Aaron Bummer and Jake Diekman are the least taxed and could be called upon to close out a game if all the other likely arms are unavailable.

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 11 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Setup Man James Karinchak is also on “High Usage Alert” after throwing 23 pitches in back-to-back days. That makes Trevor Stephan the most likely candidate to throw in a save situation.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 27 pitches on Saturday. | Roster Resource

It’s hard to say whether Helsely will get a chance at redemption after blowing the save against the Pirates on Saturday or if he will be unavailable. If he needs rest, the next in line Giovanny Gallegos would be the most likely to close out a game.

•Pierce Johnson, COL: 24 pitches on Saturday. | Roster Resource

Justin Lawrence and Brad Hand should be available if Johnson needs rest.

 

Injury News

•Jordan Romano, TOR: Rib contusion, day to day | Roster Resource

#Bluejays tell us that x-rays on Romano were negative. It’s a right rib contusion.

— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) April 15, 2023

A line drive to the ribs off the bat of Wander Franco has the Blue Jays closer’s playing status in question. As of now, he’s listed as day-to-day in most fantasy leagues, but this one should be monitored as even bruised ribs can be a very uncomfortable injury to work through. Romano will likely need at least a few days and Erik Swanson and Yimi Garcia are the two most likely to fill in for save situations.

 

Outlier Saves

•Dauri Moreta, PIT

The game was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning in St. Louis and the Pirates closer, David Bednar came in to keep it that way. Andrew McCutchen blasted a two-run home run in the top of the tenth that brought himself and the zombie runner across the plate and the Pirates called on Moreta to close out the game in the bottom of the frame. Having to face the heart of the order, Moreta made his manager nervous with a lead-off walk to Dylan Carlson but rebounded quickly to get the three outs needed to secure the save. Moreta’s bright spot was a swinging strikeout dealt to Nolan Arenado, but he also threw a wild pitch that allowed Carlson, the batter he walked, and the zombie runner from second to advance. Moreta, a 27-year-old righty, is now listed as a “Reliever on the Rise”. He throws a fastball/changeup/slider mix and averages close to 96 MPH (pitch info) on his fastball. He could be a stash add in leagues that record holds but isn’t likely to continuously get save opportunities with Bednar firmly in place as the closer.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing a Grip

•None