Bullpen Report: April 27, 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

•Tejay Antone, CIN: 53 pitches on Monday; Lucas Sims, CIN:32 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Sean Doolittle is a likely candidate for a save chance if neither Antone or Sims is available on Tuesday.

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 11 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

James Karinchak is a likely candidate for a save chance if Clase isn’t available on Tuesday.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 26 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Bryan Garcia is a likely candidate for a save chance if Soto isn’t available on Tuesday.

•Kenley Jansen, LAD: 24 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Blake Treinen is a likely candidate for a save chance if Jansen isn’t available on Tuesday.

 

Injury News

•José Alvarado, PHI: Activated from COVID-19 IL. | RosterResource

The Phillies’ top lefty setup man returned after spending a week on the COVID-19 IL for undisclosed reasons. He was not needed on Tuesday, however, as Zack Wheeler pitched eight innings and Héctor Neris closed out the ninth in a 2-1 win over the Cardinals.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Tejay Antone, CIN | RosterResource

Ahead of the Dodgers by two runs in the sixth, the Reds called on Lucas Sims to record the next five outs. He struck out four and didn’t allow a hit, but walked a batter before exiting for Amir Garrett with two outs in the seventh. Garrett, who has struggled all season long, allowed a game-tying homer to Corey Seager.

What we had learned up to this point is that neither Sims or Garrett was going to close the game. In all likelihood, it would be Sean Doolittle if he was available — he threw 21 pitches on Sunday — or Antone.

Considering that the 27-year-old Antone ended up pitching three scoreless innings and was the winning pitcher after the Reds pulled ahead in the tenth, it seems as though he was being lined up for the save if Garrett had held the lead.

There’s no question that Antone has been their best reliever and probably the one that manager David Bell trusts over anyone else. But he’s only pitched back-to-back games on one occasion thus far, so the Reds might prefer to continue utilizing him in a multi-inning role with three-to-four days rest in between. If this is the case, Doolittle and Sims would certainly still be in the mix for save chances even if Antone was the preferred choice on most days.

•Josh Staumont, KCR | RosterResource

Two days after getting his first MLB save, Staumont picked up his second with a scoreless ninth to preserve a 3-2 win over the Tigers. Scott Barlow and Greg Holland, who are presumably part of the team’s closer committee, pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, respectively.

Whether the Royals are moving away from a committee and sticking with the 27-year-old Staumont as the primary closer isn’t something that manager Mike Matheny is going to reveal. With a 14-7 record, this is a team that could require more than one pitcher who can close out wins. Ten of their wins have been by a margin of three runs or less.

But, typically, a manager will tend to use relievers in a set role the more often it works. Barlow-to-Holland-to-Staumont could become the team’s winning formula more often than not if he continues to pitch like this.

Josh Staumont, elevated 99mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/aOgi9UNBAk

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 26, 2021

 

•Lou Trivino, OAK | RosterResource

After Jake Diekman got Oakland’s last two saves — one came in the team’s 10th consecutive win and the other in the team’s 12 consecutive win — it was back to Trivino on Monday to close out a 2-1 win over the Rays for his third save. Despite winning 15 of their last 17 games, the A’s have only five saves on the season. Trivino still looks like the better bet for save chances, but Diekman should still get his share if the A’s can keep more of their wins in the one-to-three run range.

 

 

Losing A Grip

•Alex Colomé, MIN | RosterResource

Out of action since a disastrous blown save last Wednesday, Colomé probably should’ve returned in a low-leverage situation. Instead, he entered in the bottom of the tenth of Monday’s game against Cleveland with the game tied at three. On his third pitch of the night, he allowed a walk-off homer to Jordan Luplow.

WANT AN @INDIANS WALK-OFF? LUP, THERE IT IS!!!!!#OURCLE pic.twitter.com/pkxnKHkqZx

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 27, 2021

Even before Taylor Rogers picked up a save in Friday’s win over the Pirates, I wrote that “it’s hard to see this as anything less than a co-closer situation until Colomé can figure things out.” He hasn’t figured it out and I really can’t imagine he’s getting a save chance anytime soon.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.