Bullpen Report: April 28, 2021

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

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: 11 pitches on Tuesday; 20 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Ryne Stanek and Brooks Raley are next in line if Pressly is down for the day on Wednesday.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 23 pitches on Tuesday. |  RosterResource

Mychal Givens and Robert Stephenson could fill in for Bard if he’s unavailable Wednesday.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 22 pitches on Tuesday; 25 pitches on Sunday; 23 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

If Reyes is unavailable on Wednesday, Giovanny Gallegos is the top option to fill in, with Jordan Hicks, Génesis Cabrera and Andrew Miller also possibilities.

Injury News

None

Outlier Saves

•Carlos Estévez, COL |  RosterResource

After Daniel Bard blew a save in the ninth inning, the Rockies were able to reclaim the lead in the top of the tenth inning, scoring three runs. Estévez allowed one run (the extra-inning runner on second, so it was unearned), striking out one and throwing 15 pitches.

•James Karinchak, CLE | RosterResource

Karinchak entered to face Nelson Cruz with two outs in the eighth inning, and with Emmanuel Clase apparently unavailable after pitching on Sunday and Monday, stayed in for the ninth. He needed just 16 pitches to retire all four batters faced, striking out two for his second save of the season. Karinchak has now struck out a ridiculous 20 of 34 batters faced to start his season.

Committee Clarity

•Sean Doolittle, CIN | RosterResource

Doolittle picked up his first save of the season on Tuesday, retiring the Dodgers in order on 12 pitches. The Reds’ other top options were probably unavailable on Tuesday, with Lucas Sims having thrown 32 pitches on Monday and Tejay Antone tossing 53.

Losing A Grip

•Alex Colomé, MIN |  RosterResource

Colomé’s already lost his grip, really, with manager Rocco Baldelli saying that he’ll look to get his struggling closer some low-leverage opportunities for the time being. Colomé has struggled mightily in his first season with the Twins, coughing up 15 runs (eight earned) in 8.2 innings of work.

His first lower-leverage appearance went poorly on Tuesday, coming on in a one-run deficit and throwing just 13 of 30 pitches for strikes, walking three and ultimately being charged two runs.

While Colomé gets opportunities to reset himself, lefty Taylor Rogers should be the main closing option. But if righty-heavy matchups present themselves, Badelli could work right-handers Hansel Robles and Tyler Duffey into the mix.

•Daniel Bard, COL |  RosterResource

Bard was charged with his second blown save of the season on Tuesday, as he was unable to hold a one-run lead, surrendering a game-tying home run to Brandon Crawford. Bard has now given up at least one run in four of his last five appearances, raising his ERA to 5.19. If he needs a reset in a lower-leverage role, Mychal Givens and Robert Stephenson are the two likeliest to take the closing job.

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.