Bullpen Report: April 21, 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

•Greg Holland, KCR: 24 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont are the likeliest closers if Holland is down for the day on Wednesday.

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

The Cubs don’t have a very clear backup for Kimbrel, so David Ross could play matchups on Wednesday if needed. Andrew Chafin, Brandon Workman, Jason Adam, Ryan Tepera and Alec Mills could all be in play.

 

Injury News

•Jake McGee, SFG: Activated from COVID-related IL (vaccine side effects) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

McGee’s IL stay was a short one as expected, missing just two games, with Tyler Rogers and Wandy Peralta picking up saves as substitutes. McGee will slide right back in to the closer’s role after his short layoff.

 

Outlier Saves

•Jake Diekman, OAK | RosterResource

Closer Lou Trivino was brought in an inning early, getting the A’s out of a slight jam in the sixth inning of game two of a doubleheader. Diekman followed in the seventh, facing only one extra batter (who reached on an error) and striking out two to earn his first save of the season. Diekman started out slowly but has now thrown five straight scoreless appearances, so he’s clearly trusted to save games. This might be develop into a co-closer situation, at least as long as the A’s keep playing (and winning) tight games.

•Trevor Richards, TBR | RosterResource

The Rays brought their long reliever in to pitch the seventh with a large lead, and he was able to throw three effective innings to close the game out, giving up just one run on one hit, striking out four. It was Richards’ first career save.

 

Committee Clarity

•Amir Garrett, Lucas Sims and Sean Doolittle, CIN | RosterResource

Before the Reds’ contest on Tuesday was suspended (it’ll be picked up Wednesday evening), Garrett was brought on with the game tied in the eighth, struggling for three batters faced before handing the ball to Sims, whose command faltered in the driving snow. Sims ultimately gave up the lead, but his and Garrett’s usage was ultimately telling, telegraphing that the Reds might have a fluid closing situation right now.

Garrett has struggled but Sims and Doolittle have excelled so far, and manager David Bell might go with matchups in the ninth with his top three relievers for now. Garrett didn’t pitch at all between April 9th and 17th, so he might need more work in lower leverage situations just to get him on track.

Losing A Grip

None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.