Bullpen Report: April 8, 2023

The 2023 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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.

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

•Scott Barlow, KCR: 23 pitches on Friday; 10 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Aroldis Chapman and Dylan Coleman should both be good to go on Saturday.

•Jason Adam, TBR: 23 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Pete Fairbanks would likely close Saturday if Adam is unavailable.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: Three of the last four days; 6 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Erik Swanson and Yimi García have also pitched three-of-four, which could leave Adam Cimber, Tim Mayza, or Anthony Bass to close Saturday.

•Michael Fulmer, CHC: 28 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Brad Boxberger and Adbert Allay are the two most likely arms to pitch the ninth for the Cubs on Saturday, if a save chance presents itself.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Wil Crowe, PIT | RosterResource

Crowe threw 76 innings across 60 appearances in 2022 and two innings in his first appearance in 2023, so it wasn’t particularly surprising to see him go long on Friday, pitching the final three innings of the Pirates’ win. He wasn’t particularly effective, giving up two runs, including Oscar Colás’s first MLB home run, but was deemed to have pitched well enough to earn the save for those three innings. Since he threw 59 pitches, Crowe will almost surely need at least two days off before his next outing. 

Committee Clarity

•Craig Kimbrel, PHI | RosterResource

It took until their seventh game, but the Phillies finally had their first save opportunity of the season, giving some insight into who’ll be used in that role. No closer has officially been declared, meaning there’s definitely a committee, but it’s nonetheless notable that the veteran Kimbrel got the first shot. However, that might be more a function of how the lineup lined up—lefty José Alvarado, who’s been excellent to start his season—got the eight against two lefties and a righty, the 2-3-4 spots in the order. Alvarado and Seranthony Domínguez should continue to be ninth-inning options, with Gregory Soto also a possibility.

Kimbrel’s struggled to start his Phillies career, allowing multiple runs in his first two appearances before settling down on Friday, his third. The save was the 395th of his illustrious career.

Losing A Grip

•None