Bullpen Report: April 18, 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.

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

•Matt Barnes, BOS: 28 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Adam Ottavino is a likely candidate for a save chance if Barnes isn’t available on Sunday.

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 21 pitches on Saturday. |RosterResource

James Karinchak and Nick Wittgren are candidates for a save chance if Clase isn’t available on Sunday.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 22 pitches on Saturday. |RosterResource

Mychal Givens is a likely candidate for a save chance if Bard needs a day off on Sunday.

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Back-to-back; 3 of last 4.| RosterResource

Joe Smith, Ryne Stanek, and Brooks Raley are likely candidates for a save chance if Pressly isn’t available on Sunday.

•Yimi García, MIA: Back-to-back; 3 of last 4.| RosterResource

Dylan Floro and Anthony Bass are likely candidates for a save chance if Garcia isn’t available on Sunday.

•Jake McGee, SFG: 35 pitches on Saturday.| RosterResource

Tyler Rogers and Wandy Peralta are likely candidates for a save chance if McGee isn’t available on Sunday.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 28 pitches on Saturday.|RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller are likely candidates for a save chance if Reyes isn’t available on Sunday.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Victor González, LAD| RosterResource

After an extra-inning game on Friday night, the Dodgers’ pen was limited coming into Saturday’s contest. Blake Treinen got all three outs in the eighth and then one in the ninth, setting Gonzalez up for his first save of the season. With Corey Knebel having thrown 27 pitches on Friday, Gonzalez was the least taxed relief arm to close out the 2-0 shutout win over the Padres.

Committee Clarity

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE | RosterResource

Clase recorded his first blown save of the season on Saturday night against the Reds, although it was a two-out fielding error by Josh Naylor that extended the inning and placed the game-tying run on second base. Jesse Winker followed with an RBI single to tie the game at three. Singles by Nick Castellanos and Joey Votto loaded the bases before Clase closed out the inning to send the game to extra innings.

The 23-year-old rookie has been terrific thus far (6.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 3 Sv), but the race for the closer’s role could tighten up again if he begins to struggle and Karinchak continues to pitch well. After striking out the side on Saturday night to pick up his third hold, Karinchak now has six scoreless innings (0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 11 K) on the season.

Losing a Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.