Bullpen Report: April 22, 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

•None

 

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Anthony Castro and Tim Mayza, TOR | RosterResource

With a 4-1 lead over the Red Sox in the fifth inning, the Blue Jays went with their three most reliable relievers — David Phelps, Ryan Borucki, and Rafael Dolis — to get them through the eighth inning with the lead still intact. Because those three pitchers were also the team’s most likely candidates for a save chance, the Jays’ best options remaining to hold onto a 6-3 lead were 29-year-old lefty Tim Mayza and rookie Anthony Castro.

Mayza began the inning, allowing a leadoff single before retiring the next two batters. With J.D. Martinez coming to the plate, the right-hander Castro got the call. The 25-year-old threw a curveball for a called first strike. He threw another curveball and Martinez grounded out to end the game.

Not only did Castro pick up his first career save, he also extended his scoreless streak to five innings to start the season. This follows a terrific spring (9.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 15 K) that put him on the Jays’ radar when they needed bullpen help early in the season. Mayza also extended his scoreless streak to five innings, not including the 6.2 scoreless innings with only one hit allowed this spring. Clearly, this duo has gained the confidence of manager Charlie Montoyo. Whether they are part of a wide-ranging closer committee with Dolis, Phelps, and Borucki isn’t out of the question. And with Jordan Romano due back from the Injured List as early as this weekend, the Jays’ closer situation is as cloudy as it’s been since Julian Merryweather went on the Injured List with a strained oblique.

 

 

Losing A Grip

•Amir Garrett, CIN | RosterResource

Garrett’s had a shaky start to the 2021 season, allowing five earned runs over his first two appearances followed by scoreless outings in which he walked two batters in one game and allowed two hits in the other. He was the losing pitcher in his fifth appearance on Tuesday, allowing a walk and double before being removed with one out, and then he blew a 3-0 lead in Wednesday’s eventual 8-5 loss.

While manager David Bell acknowledged that Garrett’s inconsistent workload has likely contributed to his struggles — he went eight days between his third and fourth outings of the season — it’s likely that he’ll have to work things out in a lower-leverage role while Sean Doolittle, Lucas Sims, and possibly Tejay Antone become the team’s likeliest candidates for save chances.

•Alex Colomé, MIN | RosterResource

With two blown saves in his first four chances, Colomé had failed to make a strong early impression with his new team. He got a chance to redeem himself on Wednesday, though, with his team ahead 10-9 over the Athletics. But it did not go well.

Colomé hit the leadoff man, allowed a one-out single to put runners on the corners, and then gave up the lead on a sacrifice fly. In extra innings, the Twins once took back the lead and the 32-year-old had a chance to close out the victory. But, once again, it did not go well, although it was not entirely on Colomé. After retiring the first two batters, he walked Seth Brown and Elvis Andrus to load the bases and keep the inning alive for back-to-back errors by Travis Blankenhorn and Luis Arraez that allowed three runs to score and give the A’s their 11th consecutive victory.

It could be time for the Twins to turn to Taylor Rogers, who had 39 saves over the past two seasons and has not allowed an earned run in 7.2 innings in 2021. It’s hard to see this as anything less than a co-closer situation until Colomé can figure things out.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.