Bullpen Report: April 30, 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

•Cesar Valdez, BAL: Back-to-back days; 29 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Tanner Scott, Paul Fry, and Cole Sulser are likely candidates for a save chance if Valdez isn’t available on Friday.

•Héctor Neris, PHI: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 12 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Connor Brogdon has also pitched back-to-back days. José Alvarado and Sam Coonrod are likely candidates for a save chance if Neris isn’t available on Friday.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 25 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos threw 22 pitches and Jordan Hicks threw 19 pitches on Thursday. Ryan Helsley is a likely candidate for a save chance if Reyes, Gallegos, and Hicks aren’t available on Friday.

•Diego Castillo, TBR: 3 consecutive days; 16 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Andrew Kittredge threw 26 pitches on Thursday. Ryan Thompson, Jeffrey Springs, and Hunter Strickland are likely candidates for a save chance if Castillo isn’t available on Friday.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Chris Devenski, ARI | RosterResource

On the same day that presumed closer Joakim Soria sustained a strained calf in his Diamondbacks’ debut on April 4, Devenski ended up picking up the team’s first save of the season. Before any trends could emerge in regards to who was the team’s closer with Soria on the Injured List, Devenski left the team for personal reasons and was placed on the Restricted List. Three weeks later, he’s finally back in action.

Stefan Crichton had the only two saves for the Diamonbacks with Devenski out, although he’s had a few shaky outings. Top setup men Kevin Ginkel and Taylor Clarke have also struggled. Therefore, whether Devenski could jump back in the late-inning mix and how quickly he could were important questions heading into Thursday’s game. He was the first man out of the bullpen versus the Rockies, pitching a scoreless fifth inning with the game tied at three. Clarke, Caleb Smith, and Ginkel each followed with scoreless innings, respectively, to hand a 5-3 lead lead over to Crichton, who closed things out for his third save.

For now, at least, the closer’s job appears to be Crichton’s to lose with Devenski an option down the road if he can work his way back into the mix.

 

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.