Bullpen Report: April 21, 2022

The 2022 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

•Scott Barlow, KCR: Back-to-back days; 14 pitches on Wednesday. Josh Staumont, KCR: Back-to-back days; 12 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Amir Garrett and Dylan Coleman are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if neither Barlow nor Staumont is available.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Clay Holmes has also pitched back-to-back days. If neither Chapman nor Holmes is available on Thursday, Jonathan Loáisiga is a likely candidate for a save chance.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Génesis Cabrera threw 21 pitches on Wednesday, so his status is also in question for Thursday. If neither Gallegos nor Cabrera is available, Ryan Helsley is a likely candidate for a save chance.

 

Injury News

•Lucas Sims, CIN: Will likely be activated from the 10-Day IL on April 22. | Injury Report

Who wants good #Reds injury news?

• Lucas Sims pitched a scoreless inning at Louisville and should be active Friday.

• Luis Castillo will make a rehab start Sunday for Dayton

• Nick Senzel is in the lineup today

• Jose Barrero was expected to start swinging the bat today

— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) April 20, 2022

Sims, who allowed one run in four innings (5 K, BB) on his rehab assignment, could be in the mix for save chances right away. The Reds have only won two games, so it was nearly impossible for anyone to separate themselves from the committee while Sims was out. Tony Santillan and Art Warren each picked up a save, but struggled in their latest appearance.

The Reds’ most impressive reliever thus far might be Alexis Diaz, the brother of Mets’ closer, Edwin Díaz. But it is very likely that the closer’s job will belong to Sims very soon as long as he can stay healthy.

 

•Paul Sewald, SEA: Placed on COVID-19 IL. | Injury Report

While he had yet to pick up a save in 2022, Sewald has retired all 11 batters faced and should be in the mix for save chances once again after his breakout 2021 (11 saves, 16 holds, 10 wins, 3.06 ERA, 14.5 K/9). But it will have to wait until he returns from the COVID-19 related IL, which means he could miss one day or he could miss 10 days.

In the meantime, Drew Steckenrider and Diego Castillo will likely handle closer duties while Andrés Muñoz continues to make a case to join them.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Jorge López, BAL | RosterResource

López has been the leading candidate to become the Orioles’ primary closer since the start of the season and he also had the team’s only save through their first 11 games. But not only has the lack of opportunities made it difficult to know if the Orioles would go with a closer committee, they have several relievers who have been making a strong case to be part of that committee.

So, what appeared to be a potential “closer committee because no one is trusted enough” could be turning into a potential  “closer committee because there are several reliable options”. But after watching the 29-year-old Lopez retire the final five batters, three by strikeout, to finish off a 1-0 shutout win over the A’s on Wednesday, it would be hard to see the Orioles going in another direction anytime soon. If he can put together a solid first half, he could be a valuable trade chip in July.

•Scott Barlow, KCR | RosterResource

After he picked up his second save in two games on Tuesday, I wrote this about Josh Staumont in yesterday’s Bullpen Report …

Staumont, who had been hyped as a future closer after an impressive 2020 season, picked up five saves last season in a span of 11 appearances from April 24 through May 19. But he didn’t get another save while Barlow appeared to take hold of the job by season’s end. So, maybe we shouldn’t read too much into Staumont’s back-to-back saves. Three in a row, however, and I’d pretty close to calling him the Royals’ closer.

As I said, maybe we shouldn’t read too much into it. On Wednesday, it was Staumont in the eighth and Barlow closing things out in the team’s 2-0 shutout win over the Twins. Royals’ manager Mike Matheny appears to trust both pitchers in save situations and he’ll likely continue mixing and matching that duo to lock down at least the final six outs of close wins.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.