Bullpen Report: July 1, 2021

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five differentßsections, 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.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Matt Barnes, BOS: 3 consecutive days; 12 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Adam Ottavino is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Barnes isn’t available.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: 24 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Chad Green is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Chapman isn’t available.

•Alex Reyes, STL: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Reyes is not available.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Tim Hill, SDP | RosterResource

Hill was in line to be the first of several relievers who the Padres would need to cover the final five innings to close out a victory. But the game was delayed by rain after the 31-year-old lefty pitched a scoreless fifth inning. And it never stopped, forcing the game to be officially called with the Padres leading the Reds 7-5 and Hill awarded his first save of 2021.

 

 

Committee Clarity

•Cole Sulser, BAL | RosterResource

Three consecutive wins by the Orioles has resulted in saves from three different pitchers. The first two, by Adam Plutko and Dillon Tate, were outliers, however, while Sulser proved why he is clearly one of the team’s top closing options when he retired five straight Astros’ hitters to close out a 5-2 win on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old now has three saves and has pitched 6 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.05. While he still has four years of team control remaining after this season, Sulser could become a popular trade target if he continues to pitch well over the next few weeks.

 

Losing A Grip

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY | RosterResource

As disastrous as Chapman’s outing was on Wednesday — he allowed three walks and a game-tying grand slam in a game that the Yankees would eventually lose — he hadn’t pitched in a week so his lack of command could’ve been chalked up to the long layoff. But, prior to the week of non-action, the 33-year-old lefty had allowed seven earned runs, 12 hits, and five walks over his previous 5 1/3 innings. His struggles had already begun.

With Zack Britton on the Injured List with a hamstring injury, the Yankees could turn to Green (2.48 ERA, 2 saves, 10 holds) or Jonathan Loaisiga (2.32 ERA, 2 saves, 10 holds) if they want to change things up, even if it’s just temporary.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.