Bullpen Report: April 22, 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

•David Robertson, CHC: 22 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Robertson pitched back-to-back days for the first time in 2022 on Sunday (8 pitches) and Monday. If the Cubs aren’t willing to let him do it again after a bigger workload on Thursday, Mychal Givens is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday.

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: Back-to-back days; 10 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Clase pitched three consecutive days twice in 2021, so it’s not out of the question that he’ll be available again on Friday. If not, Anthony Gose and Bryan Shaw are likely candidates for a save chance.

•Joe Barlow, TEX: 25 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Spencer Patton and Garrett Richards are likely candidates for a save chance if Barlow isn’t available on Friday.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Emilio Pagán, MIN | RosterResource

In my analysis of the Twins’ closing situation after Tyler Duffey struggled in his latest outing on Tuesday, I mentioned that Pagán could be their best option for now.

Pagán has looked terrific in two of his three appearances and could be the team’s best option to either be a stopgap or a co-closer with Jhoan Duran.

While Duran was impressive once again on Thursday, striking out Royals’ hitters Andrew Benintendi and Salvador Perez during a scoreless seventh inning to keep a 1-0 lead intact, it was Pagán who finished off the shutout to pick up his 23rd career save. As long as the 30-year-old is pitching effectively, there is likely no rush to make Duran the closer when he’s only a few appearances into his major league career.

•Chris Stratton, PIT | RosterResource

The Pirates were clear that David Bednar and Stratton would share the closer’s role to begin the season. And, so far, that’s how things are playing out. After Bednar picked up his first save on Sunday in the team’s 5-3 win over the Nationals, it was Stratton’s turn on Thursday. Handed a 4-3 lead in the ninth, the 31-year-old retired the side in order to close out the Cubs and pick up his 10th career save.

•Joe Barlow, TEX | RosterResource

Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward was unwilling to commit to Barlow as the team’s primary closer to begin the season, leaving several less obvious candidates who may or may not be part of a committee. But now we’re twelve games into the season and the Rangers have won just three games and have no saves. And Barlow, despite allowing a homer in each of his past two outings, still seems like the logical choice to close out a win.

On Thursday, he entered with two outs in the eighth inning and the Mariners rallying after having tied the game against Matt Bush. After a walk loaded the bases, he struck out Tom Murphy to end the threat. The Rangers took an 8-6 lead in the top of the ninth and the 26-year-old Barlow quickly finished things out with a 1-2-3 ninth.

While it’s possible that the Rangers do have a “closer committee”, they’ll need to win much more often to know who is part of it.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.