Bullpen Report: April 20, 2023

The 2023 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.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Carlos Estévez, LAA: 30 pitches on Wednesday; 3 of last 5 days. | RosterResource

José Quijada is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday, especially if Estévez isn’t available.

•José Alvarado, PHI: Back-to-back days; 12 pitches on Wednesday. Craig Kimbrel PHI: Back-to-back days; 12 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Seranthony Domínguez is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday, especially if Alvarado and Kimbrel aren’t available.

•Josh Hader, SDP: 22 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Hader will likely be available on Thursday when the Padres open a four-game series against the Diamondbacks. If he’s not, Luis García is a likely candidate for a save chance.

 

Injury Report

•Daniel Bard, COL: Activated from 15-Day IL. | RosterResource

Pierce Johnson picked up the save in three of the Rockies’ five wins, but he’ll likely move into a setup role now that Bard is back in the mix. The 37-year-old Bard made his 2023 debut on Wednesday, pitching a perfect 8th inning with his team losing 12-1 to the Pirates. Even if the Rockies want to ease him back into action after his 18-game stint on the IL due to anxiety, this one might be all the low-leverage work he needs before he’s back closing out games.

•Trevor May, OAK: Placed on 15-Day IL. | RosterResource

The A’s are a team that might not have much use for a closer, but May is the closest they had to a reliable reliever with a strong track record. But, along with just about every pitcher on their roster, the 33-year-old is off to a miserable start and he’s now following Bard’s path by taking a step back to deal with anxiety.

While May did pick up a win in two of his first three outings, he allowed a run in five of eight games and walked nine batters over six innings. Hopefully, he’ll be back on the mound in the near future. In the meantime, the A’s bullpen is a mess.

Jeurys Familia and Zach Jackson appear to be the top candidates for save chances. Familia has 125 career saves, but he’s also allowed six runs and walked seven batters in nine innings. Jackson is coming off of a strong rookie season and was off to a good start in 2023. But he walked three batters while recording only one out in Sunday’s game and then allowed another run in Wednesday’s 12-2 loss to the Cubs.

 

Outlier Saves

•Matt Bush, MIL | RosterResource

Devin Williams threw 20 pitches on Tuesday after a 33-pitch outing on Sunday, leaving Peter Strzelecki and Bush as the leading candidates for a save chance on Wednesday. Strzelecki, who began the season with eight consecutive scoreless innings and four holds, has appeared to have taken hold of the team’s primary setup role with Bush falling behind after he allowed home runs in back-to-back appearances on April 13 and April 17.

On Wednesday, it was Strzelecki who got the call with a 5-2 lead over the Mariners, one man on base, and two outs in the eighth inning. He struck out Julio Rodriguez to end the inning and then returned for the ninth in an attempt to pick up a four-out save. The 28-year-old struggled, however, allowing a run and recording only out before he was removed with the tying runs on base. Bush quickly ended things on back-to-back popouts to pick up his first save.

•Brent Headrick, MIN | RosterResource

Making his major league debut on Wednesday, the 25-year-old Headrick entered with a 10-3 lead over the Red Sox. Nine outs later, he would close out the win after allowing only one run on one hit with three strikeouts.

•Taylor Rogers, SFG | RosterResource

The 32-year-old lefty is off to a shaky start with his new team, allowing at least one run in five of his first seven appearances. He’s clearly fallen down the depth chart with Scott Alexander proving to be the Giants’ most reliable lefty out of the ‘pen thus far.

On Wednesday, the Giants had already used five relievers before turning to Rogers in the 11th with a 5-2 lead, one out, and the tying run at the plate. He struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr., hit Garrett Cooper to load the bases, and then retired Luis Arraez on a groundout to pick up his first save of 2023. It’s at least a step in the right direction.

 

Committee Clarity

•José Alvarado, PHI | RosterResource

With Alvarado standing out as the Phillies’ lone bright spot out of the bullpen, the possibility of using him in save situations has increased greatly since the start of the season when it appeared that Kimbrel and Dominguez would have a slight edge over the lefty. But, regardless of whether that duo can rebound after struggling early on — Kimbrel has five consecutive scoreless outings; Dominguez struck out two batters in a scoreless inning on Tuesday — it’s the effectiveness of fellow lefty Gregory Soto that could be the biggest factor in allowing Alvarado to close out games.

After a disastrous debut (0 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB) and another bad performance in his third appearance (IP, ER, H, 2 BB), Soto has been terrrific as of late. Over his last 6.1 innings, he’s allowed just one unearned run and has not allowed a hit while walking two and striking out seven. On Wednesday, he picked up his third hold by recording two outs in the seventh inning of a 5-2 game. Kimbrel followed with a scoreless eighth and Alvarado closed things out in the ninth for his second save.

 

Losing A Grip

•Scott Barlow, KCR | RosterResource

Through seven appearances, Barlow has not resembled the pitcher he was over the past two seasons when he posted a 2.30 ERA and 10.2 K/9 with 40 saves and 20 holds for the Royals. But, even if he was pitching effectively, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Royals began to give some save chances to Aroldis Chapman. That’s because Chapman looks like the guy who was once the best closer in baseball.

In seven scoreless appearances, the 35-year-old Chapman has allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters. He is also averaging close to 100 MPH with his fastball. A co-closer situation due to Chapman’s re-emergence as a dominant pitcher could be a best-case scenario for the Royals. But a big part of that equation is getting Barlow on track.

After beginning the season with three consecutive scoreless outings, the 30-year-old allowed three earned runs in a blown save to the Rangers on April 11. He allowed a run on two hits to the Braves while picking up his second loss of the season in Sunday’s game. On Wednesday, both Chapman and Barlow pitched in garbage time during a blowout loss to the Rangers since neither had pitched since Sunday. Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Barlow walked two and allowed three hits, including a three-run homer to Jonah Heim.

As I’ve written here before, I don’t like to see a closer lose his job on their day off. But it’s hard not to see Chapman getting the call the next time the Royals have a save chance. And maybe this is a good opportunity to move Barlow back to his previous role as a multi-inning setup man who can close out games occasionally.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.