Bullpen Report: April 24, 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

•Matt Barnes, BOS: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 22 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Adam Ottavino and Darwinzon Hernandez are likely candidates for a save chance if Barnes isn’t available on Saturday. Ottavino has also pitched back-to-back days and three of four, but only threw 12 pitches on Friday.

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 32 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crochet are likely candidates for a save chance if Hendriks isn’t available on Saturday.

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Back-to-back days; 29 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Ryne Stanek and Brooks Raley are likely candidates for a save chance if Pressly isn’t available on Saturday.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 17 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga are likely candidates for a save chance if Chapman isn’t available on Saturday. Green has also pitched back-to-back days and three of four, but only threw 8 pitches on Friday.

•Jake McGee, SFG: Back-to-back days; 19 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Tyler Rogers is a likely candidate for a save chance if McGee isn’t available on Saturday.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 23 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley are likely candidates for a save chance if Reyes isn’t available on Saturday.

 

 

Injury News

•Greg Holland, KCR: Placed on COVID-19 IL. | RosterResource

As of the end of Friday, no information was available on Holland. The best-case scenario in these situations, which have been common this season, is that he misses one or two days due to vaccination side effects. If he had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, he could miss a few more days until he’s cleared to return.

The Royals have placed Greg Holland on the IL. No reason given. Brad Brach has been selected.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) April 23, 2021

With Holland temporarily out of the mix, Josh Staumont and Scott Barlow are the Royals’ leading candidates for save chances. On Friday with the team ahead 6-2, Barlow pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Staumont followed with a scoreless ninth.

•Corey Knebel, LAD: Removed from Friday’s game (upper triceps discomfort). | RosterResource

It’s been a long road back for Knebel, who appeared to be back to his pre-injury form when he began the season with 5.1 scoreless and hitless innings. But he struggled in his next outing on April 16, allowing two earned and three hits, and didn’t pitch again until a week later. After a five-pitch walk on Friday, he was removed with upper triceps discomfort.

Corey Knebel: tests tomorrow on what Dave Roberts said was "upper tricep."

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 24, 2021

 

•Diego Castillo, TBR: Placed on COVID-19 IL. | RosterResource

Castillo, who is dealing with vaccination side effects, is expected back in the next day or two. No closer was needed on Friday during the team’s 5-3 loss to Toronto. If  Castillo isn’t back on Saturday, Ryan Thompson and Andrew Kittredge are leading candidates for a save chance.

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Taylor Rogers, MIN | RosterResource

After Alex Colomé’s latest blown save on Wednesday, I wrote “it’s hard to see this as anything less than a co-closer situation until Colomé can figure things out.” On Friday, this theory was proven as the 30-year-old lefty was called on to close out a 2-0 shutout win over the Pirates.

With one out in the ninth, Rogers came in to face switch-hitter Bryan Reynolds and left-handed batter Colin Moran. He quickly retired both hitters to pick up his first save of 2021 and the 42nd of his career. Now, the question is whether manager Rocco Baldelli is willing to go with Colomé in a save situation that might be a more favorable matchup for him or if he sticks with Rogers as the primary closer.

•Jake Diekman, OAK | RosterResource

With Lou Trivino having pitched in 11 of the team’s first 19 games and the A’s in the midst of an 11-game winning streak, it was becoming clear that the A’s would need more than one option to close out games. Whether that would be an occasional save chance for Diekman or more of co-closer situation with Trivino is still up in the air, but the 34-year-old lefty has now earned saves in back-to-back appearances.

On Friday, he made quick work of the Orioles with a 1-2-3 ninth to close out a 3-1 win and extend the Athletics’ winning streak to 12 games. My guess is that manager Bob Melvin will continue to mix and match with Trivino and Diekman based on matchups.

•Rafael Dolis, TOR | RosterResource

Going into Friday’s game, the Blue Jays had just one save since Julian Merryweather injured his oblique on April 13 and that went to rookie Anthony Castro. Dolis has been the team’s leading candidate for save chances, however, and he finally got one on Friday with a 1-2-3 inning to close out a 5-3 win over the Rays.

Jordan Romano is on track to return from the Injured List on Saturday, but he might need at least a few appearances before he’s thrust back into a high-leverage role. In the meantime, Dolis remains the Jays’ best option for saves, although there are a few others in the mix.

 

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.