Bullpen Report: April 9, 2021
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.
- 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.
- Injury News
- Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
- Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
- 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
Julian Merryweather, TOR: 31 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource
Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis are candidates for a save chance on Friday if Merryweather is not available.
Injury News
•Enoli Paredes, HOU: Left Thursday’s game with side discomfort. | RosterResource
After walking both batters he faced in the eighth inning, Paredes was removed after the trainer visited him on the mound.
Enoli Paredes "did something to his side," according to Dusty Baker. He is being evaluated by doctors now.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 9, 2021
Considering he had walked four batters in 1 1/3 innings over his first two appearances, manager Dusty Baker might’ve taken him out even if he hadn’t been injured. It’s not known if Paredes’ control issues are related to the injury or if this is something that occurred in Thursday’s outing. The 25-year-old was one of the Astros’ best relievers in 2020 and was expected to be one of the team’s primary setup men this season.
•Trevor Rosenthal, OAK: Underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery; A.J. Puk, OAK: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained biceps). | RosterResource
Rosenthal has not been ruled out for the season, although it sounds like he could miss three-to-four months in a best-case scenario. The A’s have yet to have a save situation, but a closer committee with Lou Trivino, Jake Diekman, and Sergio Romo appears likely for the time being. Puk, who pitched three innings in relief on Monday, could also be in the mix once he’s healthy.
Trevor Rosenthal was feeling numbness in his fingers and pain in his shoulder and chest after pitching. He had TOS surgery today in Dallas and could miss four months.
Who will pitch the ninth?https://t.co/g7f0JG0HeO
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) April 8, 2021
Outlier Saves
•None
Committee Clarity
•Lou Trivino, OAK | RosterResource
While veterans Diekman and Romo have long track records of success pitching in the late innings, Trivino could be the more likely candidate if the team goes with one pitcher in the closer’s role as opposed to a committee.
After a breakout rookie season in 2018 (2.92 ERA, 10.0 K/9, 4 Sv, 23 Holds in 69 appearances), Trivino struggled the following year (5.25 ERA in 61 appearances). He bounced back in 2020, but it flew a bit under the radar due to the short season. The 29-year-old had a terrific spring, however, with seven shutout innings and only one hit allowed, and that success has carried over into his first four appearances of the regular season (5.2 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 6 K).
Sounds like Lou Trivino could get some save opportunities with Rosenthal out. Melvin said Diekman is more ideal for the eighth inning, especially against Houston and their lefties.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 8, 2021
Losing A Grip
•Anthony Bass, MIA | RosterResource
Lost in the chaos of the Marlins’ loss to the Mets on Michael Conforto’s controversial walkoff hit-by-pitch was Bass’ second blown save in two chances. Even if Conforto would’ve been called out for leaning into a pitch, the bases were still loaded with two outs and Pete Alonso coming up to bat.
The 33-year-old Bass, who signed a two-year, $5 million contract during the offseason, couldn’t hold a 4-2 lead over the Rays on Opening day. On Thursday, he allowed a game-tying homer to Jeff McNeil to lead off the ninth before loading the bases for Conforto. Yimi García, after allowing only one earned run in 15 innings in 2020, had been the favorite to be the Marlins’ closer before Bass signed. He could still get that chance if Bass doesn’t turn things around quickly.
>Andrew Chafin and Alec Mills are candidates for a save chance on Friday if Kimbrel isn’t available for a third consecutive day.
unless I’m missing something the Cubs have an off day friday
So do the Marlins (“Yimi García is a candidate for a save chance on Friday if Bass is not available”) and the Cardinals (“Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Miller, and Jordan Hicks are candidates for a save chance on Friday if Reyes isn’t available”).
Thanks. Still not used to having teams with days off on Friday.
thoracic outlet syndrome doesn’t seem to have a good success rate of full recovery– recall what it did to poor Matt Harvey. hopefully it’ll improve with time and greater understanding but for now it seems about as good a rate as TJS in the 1980s
The linked story says four A’s pitchers have all returned within 4 months of the same surgery. I wonder if it’s a surgery that is similar to thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, but not exactly the same. Some reporters didn’t call it TOS, but just described the surgery. In years past, TOS wasn’t a 4-month recovery.
You don’t think Wade Davis is in the mix in KC? And where is Hicks in StL?
I’m keeping an eye on Davis’ usage, but he hasn’t been good in years so I’m not gonna jump to conclusions in this case. He was kind of the last man standing when he got the save on Opening Day and Holland was running out of gas. I think there’s a decent chance he part of the committee at this point, especially since they almost never use Staumont/Barlow in save situations and they’ve also used Holland/Hahn in non-save situations.
STL has said they’re going to ease Hicks back into action. Reyes is the closer and Gallegos/Miller are still the go-to setup men.
It seems unlikely to me that Reyes loses the roll. Not only would he have to struggle, he is probably better not as good as Reyes in the first place. The velocity is great and all, but Reyes also can throw 100, and Hicks 105 or whatever has never been able to miss bats at the same rate as Reyes.
Do you guys think Tejay Antone will get a more prominent bullpen role?
More likely he ends up in the rotation imo
He’s barely pitched this season. With gray coming back soon, is a rotation spot even possible outside of injury ? Close to dropping him
I do. Maybe not “closer” prominent, but I think he could be a valuable setup man. The reason he’s in the bullpen now is that he had an injury in spring that didn’t allow him to build up to pitch as a starter. So, it will be tough to move him back to the rotation later during this season unless they send him to the minors to start building up his pitch count again.
I’m wondering about Antone as well. The issue to me here is that the Reds have been blowing people out, so there really hasn’t been much reason to use him. I was hoping for a couple 3 inning saves out of him in blowouts, but nope.
Surprised no mention of Petit in OAK for save chances. I think he’s likely ahead of some of the guys mentioned.
I wouldn’t rule it out. But he’s made over 180 appearances with Oakland since ’18 and has 0 saves.
Jason, why do you think Garrett Crochet is the second man up for the ChiSox? I thought they wanted to use him in long relief to prepare him as a starter next season (like they did with Chris Sale) and they have several other quality options to choose from.
I think it doesn’t matter very much right now because Hendriks-Bummer are pretty much locked into those 1-2 spots. But the next in line after that, in my opinion, is very close between Marshall, Heuer, and Crochet. In a case where one of them has to be the closer for a few weeks/months, it’s probably a committee with Crochet the guy you want to finish the game whenever he’s available.
Brad Hand activated from the IL today
Great work Jason!
Did you do an up and coming reliever? Or one to watch? Thought it was going to be yesterday or today but don’t see it.
The “Relievers On The Rise” column will begin next week. I already had a few names in mind, but didn’t want to make a judgement on only a few outings.
Paul Sporer did something on some up and coming relievers a couple days ago … https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/looking-for-the-next-great-middle-reliever/