Bullpen Report: August 1, 2022

The 2022 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

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 16 pitches on Sunday; 16 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

If Hendriks is unavailable for a third straight day, Kendall Graveman is the likely closer.

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Three of the last four days; 19 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Héctor Neris, Rafael Montero, and Ryne Stanek should all be available on Monday.

•Alexis Díaz, CIN: 28 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource
•Buck Farmer, CIN: Three of the last four days; 16 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Farmer is the likelier of the Reds’ co-closers to be available, but if neither is then a save chance could fall to righty Dauri Moreta or lefty Reiver Sanmartin. Hunter Strickland can come off the bereavement list as soon as Monday, but it’s unclear if he will.

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD: 26 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Yency Almonte and new acquisition Chris Martin are all options to close on Monday.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: Three of the last four days; 14 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

John Brebbia has also worked three-of-four, including 20 pitches on Saturday. That leaves Dominic Leone and Tyler Rogers the best closing options from the right side, with Jarlín García the top lefty.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•Buck Farmer, CIN | RosterResource

Farmer’s bottom-line results (5.91 ERA) have been bad in his 21.1 innings this year, but there’s a certain level of misleadingness there. Farmer’s BABIP allowed is a sky-high and unsustainable .382, and he has struck out 28 batters this year, so his fastball-slider combo clearly plays. So, he followed Alexis Díaz by taking a one-run lead in the ninth and was able to close the game out despite issuing a walk for his first save of the year. David Bell seems to like employing Díaz as a fireman, which takes some saves away from him, so Farmer might fit the more traditional closer billing when Díaz has already been used.

•Luis García, SDP | RosterResource

Just two days after Taylor Rogers was removed from the closer role, we have our answer as to who’s first in line for the Padres, at least until the Trade Deadline. García earned his first save of the year after being great all year in a setup role, with a 3.23 ERA in 39 innings, which includes 42 strikeouts and a palatable 12 walks. Nabil Crismatt could also factor in, but he often goes multiple innings in the middle of the game, so García’s in pole position until we see how the Padres’ deadline shakes out.

"He got it today. We get in that situation (Monday), there’s a good chance he’s going to have it (Monday)."#Padres notes:

Luis Garcia gets first post-Rogers save; Myers on his way back as Hosmer deals with neck strain, plus rotation talk. https://t.co/hiWz2dkCBl pic.twitter.com/Z9W9OSpvWz

— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 1, 2022

Losing A Grip

•Mark Melancon, ARI | RosterResource

The Diamondbacks pretty clearly aren’t going anywhere this season—they’ve already traded David Peralta away and could do more selling by Tuesday’s Trade Deadline—but that doesn’t mean they have to stick with their closer who now has taken a staggering nine losses after Sunday’s walk-off loss. Losses don’t actually matter much, and he is 14-for-16 in saves, but Melancon is clearly pitching with diminished stuff, with a 4.89 ERA, and a strikeout rate of under 17%. There might be a little bit of bad luck going on with Melancon, with a BABIP of .342 and just two homers allowed. But his average exit velocity allowed has gone up over 1.5 MPH year-over-year, and his grounder rate has dropped by 12 points.

If the Diamondbacks elect to make a change—and they’ve given no inclination either way—Ian Kennedy and Joe Mantiply have both pitched far better than Melancon and would be the top options, perhaps as co-closers.