Bullpen Report: August 2, 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.

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

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 8 pitches on Monday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Clase, Trevor Stephan (8 pitches), Eli Morgan (17 pitches), and James Karinchak (17 pitches) were all used for the second game in a row on Monday during an eleven-inning game with the Diamondbacks. They will have to hope starter Triston McKenzie is able to go deep into the game on Tuesday. If he can’t Bryan Shaw and Nick Sandlin should be available to work late innings.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 29 pitches on Monday. | Roster Resource

Another extra-innings game (10) in Minnesota used up the bullpen arms para los tigres. Michael Fulmer was charged with the blown save after throwing 23 pitches and giving up two earned runs. If both Soto and Fulmer are unavailable on Tuesday night, Andrew Chafin is likely to appear in a save situation.

•Scott Barlow, KCR: 27 pitches on Monday. | Roster Resource

Next-in-line Josh Staumont is likely to appear in a save situation if Barlow is unavailable.

•Hunter Strickland, CIN: 24 pitches on Monday. | Roster Resource

Fellow committee members Alexis Díaz or Buck Farmer should be available on Tuesday.

•Mark Melancon, ARI: 21 pitches on Monday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Will Joe Mantiply be traded? If so, Noé Ramirez is likely to be used in a high-leverage on Tuesday given that Ian Kennedy is also on “High Usage Alert”. If not, Mantiply should be the next man up.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Keegan Akin, BAL | Roster Resource

The Orioles have done a good job converting Akin from a prospective starter to a middle-reliever who can soak up innings. In 20 out of Akin’s 27 appearances, he has thrown two or more innings. While some may use this as an opportunity to speculate as to why closer Jorge López did not appear, there was never really a need for a closer in this game. The Orioles jumped to an early lead against the Texas Rangers on Monday night and O’s starter Spencer Watkins lasted six innings. Akin threw the seventh, eighth, and ninth and earned the save even with a five-run lead due to the prolonged outing (3 innings or more by MLB’s definition). Akin gave up one run on a Nick Solak homer, but only gave up one other hit, no walks, and recorded three strikeouts.  Akin has terrific control and holds a 5.9% BB% on the year. The league average among all relievers in 2022 is 9.1%. For now, it seems long-relief with a lead is the perfect spot for Akin and while he may not be fantasy relevant, he’s an important player in a real-life bullpen.

 

Committee Clarity

•Zach Jackson & AJ Puk, OAK | Roster Resource

With Lou Trivino headed for pinstripes the Athletics will likely fill the closer role with a two-man committee. Both Jackson and Puk have two saves and two wins each in 2022. Jackson’s 2.90 ERA is lower than his xERA of 3.68 by a fairly large margin. His 12.27 K/9 is impressive, but it’s paired with a 6.25 BB/9 which is fourth worst in the league among qualified relievers. 2022 has been Jackson’s first year in the big leagues. Puk has been around a little longer and has the better ERA at 2.08, but his xERA is also higher at 3.40. He walks fewer batters than Jackson (2.08 BB/9) but strikes out fewer (9.35 K/9) and has been riding a high LOB% of 82.2% on the season. Time will tell if either of these relievers has a chance to make an impact, but the other aspect influencing their ability to get saves is Oakland’s poor win percentage. At 39-65 as of this writing, the Athletics have the second-fewest wins in the big leagues behind the Nationals. Lastly, the question of whether or not Dany Jiménez will get a chance to reclaim the closer role plays a role here. Jiménez held the role for a decent stretch this season and has 11 saves recorded so far on the year. He’s currently working his way back from the 15-Day IL with a shoulder injury but had a great outing in AAA on July 29th. It’s possible that this writing will be redundant and Jiménez will be thrown right back into the closer role, but we’ll just have to wait and see. For now, fantasy managers with an open spot on their roster may benefit from a Jackson and/or Puk stream in good matchups.

 

Losing a Grip

•None