Bullpen Report: April 20, 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

•Josh Hader, MIL: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Brent Suter, Brad Boxberger, and Devin Williams are likely candidates for a save chance if Hader isn’t available on Tuesday.

•Rafael Montero, SEA: Back-to-back days; 18 pitches on Monday. Kendall Graveman, SEA: 24 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Keynan Middleton is a likely candidate for a save chance if neither Montero or Graveman is available on Tuesday.

•Ian Kennedy, TEX: Back-to-back days; 18 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Joely Rodríguez, Taylor Hearn, and John King are likely candidates for a save chance if Kennedy isn’t available on Tuesday.

 

 

Injury News

•José Alvarado, PHI: Placed on COVID-19 IL. | RosterResource

No reason was given for Alvarado’s placement on the COVID-19 IL, but the two relievers who were recalled on Monday — Damon Jones and Cristopher Sánchez — were both optioned back to the Alternate Site after the game. That’s a strong indication that Alvarado has been cleared for a quick return. The 25-year-old lefty has allowed just one earned run in 5.2 innings with ten strikeouts and one save on the season.

Outlier Saves

•Wandy Peralta, SFG | RosterResource

With Jake McGee out for a second day — he’s on the COVID-19 IL due to vaccination side effects — and Tyler Rogers having pitched back-to-back days, it was Peralta who got the call to close out a 2-0 win over the Phillies. The 29-year-old lefty pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save of the season. He had zero saves in 210 career appearances through the 2020 season, but he now has two over his last six. Peralta has emerged as one of the Giants’ top setup men for McGee, who is tied for the major league lead with six saves.

 

Committee Clarity

•Rafael Montero and Kendall Graveman, SEA | RosterResource

The last time Montero and Graveman teamed up to close out a Mariners’ win was in game one of Thursday’s double-header. Montero got the hold in a scoreless sixth and Graveman got his second save after a scoreless seventh. As I wrote in that day’s Bullpen Report, the team’s usage of Graveman in the save situation likely had more to do with his effectiveness — he still hasn’t allowed a run in 7.2 innings — rather than Montero’s early struggles.

On Monday versus the Dodgers, the roles were flipped as Graveman recorded five outs in the seventh and eighth before handing over a 4-3 lead to Montero in the ninth. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed a one-out walk followed by a hit-by-pitch, but ended the threat by inducing a double-play grounder to pick up his third save.

It’s clear that Montero and Graveman are the team’s top relievers, entrusted to record at least the final six outs with the team ahead in a close game. It’s also clear that manager Scott Servais trusts both to pitch the ninth. What we don’t know is how often he’ll use Montero ahead of Graveman. Stay tuned.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.