Bullpen Report: April 23, 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.

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.

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

•Jake Diekman, BOS: 28 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Hansel Robles and Matt Barnes are the top closing options on Saturday, with Matt Strahm the top lefty option.

•Emilio Pagán, MIN: 34 pitches on Friday; 9 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Hard-throwing Jhoan Duran and soft-tossing Joe Smith are the top options to substitute for Pagán on Saturday.

•Andrés Muñoz, SEA: Two of last three days; 22 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Co-closers Drew Steckenrider and Diego Castillo should be good to go on Saturday.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 20 pitches on Friday; 18 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Yimi García, Adam Cimber and Tim Mayza should all be available to fill in.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 10 pitches on Friday; 14 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

It hasn’t been too heavy a workload for Díaz, but if the Mets want to avoid using him for a third straight day, Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith or Seth Lugo could fill in. Trevor May (26 pitches) probably won’t be usable Saturday.

•David Bednar, PIT: 19 pitches on Friday; 15 pitches on Thursday; Chris Stratton, PIT: Three straight days; 19 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

The co-closers being worked hard the past few days and Heath Hembree also pitching on back-to-back days means the Pirates could have to get creative with a save chance on Saturday. Anthony Banda and Dillon Peters are southpaw possibilities, with Miguel Yajure and Chase De Jong possibly the only righty relievers even available out of Derek Shelton’s bullpen.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Three of last four days; 20 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Génesis Cabrera (who’s pitched in two of the last three days) and Ryan Helsley are the top fill-in options.

•Mark Melancon, ARI: 17 pitches on Friday; 10 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

If Melancon can’t go for a third consecutive day, Ian Kennedy would close.

Injury News

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Outlier Saves

•Seth Lugo, NYM | RosterResource

Pretty standard outlier save here: the closer (Edwin Díaz) gives up the lead in the ninth, the setup man picks up the save in the tenth. It’s been a rough start to Lugo’s year, as even after his scoreless save his ERA is 5.68, but he was nonetheless the choice to face the top of the Diamondbacks lineup in the tenth. Dealing with the zombie runner on second base, Lugo struck out the first two hitters faced before walking Matt Davidson and then inducing a pop-up to end the game.

Committee Clarity

•Matt Barnes, BOS | RosterResource

At least for now, the team’s former enigmatic closer may be finally back in the circle of trust after losing his job late last season. With Garrett Whitlock moving to the rotation at least for a spot start on Saturday, now is Barnes’ best opportunity to stake his claim to the closing spot, with manager Alex Cora saying he prefers set roles. Jake Diekman and Hansel Robles have done most of the closing for Boston, but it was Barnes who bailed Diekman out after the lefty loaded the bases on walks and almost coughed up the one-run lead. Barnes retired the red-hot Wander Franco with a grounder to second, ending the game. With Diekman almost surely unavailable Saturday after 28 erratic pitches on Friday, Barnes could get another shot soon.

•Andrés Muñoz, SEA | RosterResource

With Paul Sewald sidelined due to COVID-19, it was thought that the Mariners’ three-headed closing monster of Sewald, Drew Steckenrider and Diego Castillo would just have two heads for the time being. But it was Muñoz—even with Castillo probably available out of the bullpen—who got the save on Friday. The fireballing righty has been brilliant since giving up a go-ahead homer to Byron Buxton on the second day of the season, striking out nine of 16 batters faced in the subsequent five scoreless appearances, with just two hits and a walk allowed.

Losing A Grip

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