Bullpen Report: April 28, 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

•Mark Melancon, ARI: Back-to-back days; 11 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Ian Kennedy has also pitched back-to-back days. If neither Melancon nor Kennedy is available on Thursday, Noé Ramirez and Joe Mantiply are likely candidates for a save chance.

•Kenley Jansen, ATL: Back-to-back days; 13 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Will Smith is a likely candidate for a save chance if Jansen isn’t available on Thursday.

•Héctor Neris, HOU: Back-to-back days; 12 pitches on Wednesday. Ryne Stanek, HOU: 22 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Rafael Montero is a likely candidate for a save chance if neither Neris nor Stanek is available on Thursday.

•Anthony Bender, MIA: Back-to-back days; 22 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Cole Sulser and Anthony Bass are likely candidates for a save chance if Bender isn’t available on Thursday.

•Josh Hader, MIL: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 26 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Devin Williams is a likely candidate for a save chance if Hader isn’t available on Thursday.

•Tanner Rainey, WSN: 21 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Kyle Finnegan is a likely candidate for a save chance if Rainey isn’t available on Thursday.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Rowan Wick, CHC | RosterResource

David Robertson was called on to get the final out of the eighth inning after the Braves had tied up the game against Mychal Givens, then struck out Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Marcell Ozuna in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Despite not getting the save chance and not having one since he saved back-to-back games on April 17 and April 18, Robertson’s performance on Wednesday was a reminder of why he’s separated himself as the Cubs’ primary closer. But, after the team took a 6-3 lead in the top of the 10th, Wick finally got an opportunity to pick up his first save of 2022. He pitched a 1-2-3 tenth, including a pair of strikeouts to close out the win.

In 6.2 innings, the 29-year-old Wick has allowed just one earned run while striking out nine batters. It’s a good sign after he missed most of last season with an intercostal strain.

•Kendall Graveman, CHW | RosterResource

With Liam Hendriks unavailable — he’s been dealing with back discomfort over the past few days — Graveman and Aaron Bummer were the White Sox’s likely candidates for a save chance on Wednesday. But after Graveman made easy work of the Royals in a 1-2-3 eighth inning, preserving a 6-3 lead, he was sent back out for the ninth to close things out and pick up his 1st save.

Following the six-up, six-down outing with four strikeouts, Graveman should continue to be the team’s top closing option until Hendriks is available again.

•Clay Holmes, NYY | RosterResource

Holmes didn’t start the season as the Yankees’ “next in line” for save chances after Aroldis Chapman, but he’s become the clear choice only a few weeks into the season. On Wednesday, he pitched a perfect ninth, including two strikeouts, to close out a 5-2 win over the Orioles. Chapman had thrown 24 pitches on Tuesday, so going with Holmes was probably an easy call.  The 29-year-old now has two saves and five holds in his 10 appearances and has not allowed a run in his last nine innings pitched.

 

Committee Clarity

•Ryne Stanek, HOU | RosterResource

After a shaky season debut on April 9, Stanek was unavailable for a few days with back tightness and didn’t end up pitching again until April 17. Manager Dusty Baker mentioned him as part of the team’s closer committee, however, when Ryan Pressly went on the Injured List, although Neris and Montero have appeared to be the Astros’ top two high-leverage options.

But Stanek got a chance on Wednesday to preserve a 4-2 lead over the Rangers in the ninth, following Neris’ scoreless eighth inning.  Things started badly with a leadoff walk and a double, but he was able to close things out (barely) on a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to pick up his 1st save.

Ryne Stanek, 99mph ⛽️ and ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GqP5nX2syu

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 28, 2022

In the meantime, Pressly is eligible to return from the Injured List but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to happen this week.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said the club is deciding if RHP Ryan Pressly (knee) will throw another simulated game. "He's not quite ready," he said.

Baker when asked if Pressly had a setback. "No, not really. He just hasn't had a step forward."

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 27, 2022

 

•Anthony Bender, MIA | RosterResource

One day after Bender picked up a save in his first appearance in six days, he was right back in the saddle on Wednesday against the Nationals. But, this time, he was called on in the eighth to bail out a struggling Tanner Scott, who had just walked Nelson Cruz to force home a run and cut the Marlins’ lead to 2-1. Bender recorded the third out and then followed with a scoreless ninth to pick up his fourth save.

With Scott’s back-to-back poor outings after he picked up a save on Saturday and appeared to be making a run as the team’s primary closing option, Bender’s current hold on the closer’s job has tightened.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.