Bullpen Report: July 27, 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.

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: 27 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Hendriks isn’t available.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Michael Fulmer is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Soto isn’t available.

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 32 pitches on Tuesday; Tyler Duffey, MIN: 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Griffin Jax is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if neither Duran nor Duffey is available.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 3 of last 4 days; 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Seth Lugo is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Díaz isn’t available.

•Lou Trivino, OAK: Back-to-back days; 5 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

A.J. Puk is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Trivino isn’t available.

•Taylor Rogers, SDP: 30 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Luis García is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Rogers isn’t available.

•Paul Sewald, SEA: Back-to-back days; 28 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Andrés Muñoz is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Sewald isn’t available.

 

Injury Report

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Mychal Givens, CHC | RosterResource

Unavailable on Monday after pitching Saturday and Sunday, David Robertson figured to be back in action on Tuesday. But, once again, manager David Ross stayed away from his closer and went with Givens to close out another win over the Pirates.

Ross’ explanation was that Robertson would not have had sufficient rest had he pitched Tuesday afternoon and would’ve been available if they had played a night game.

Cubs manager David Ross said closer/obvious trade chip David Robertson “wasn’t an option” to finish today’s 4-2 win over the Pirates, citing his back-to-back appearances in Philadelphia over the weekend: “If it had been a night game, he probably would have been available.”

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 26, 2022

 

However, the 37-year-old Robertson will almost certainly be traded prior to the August 2 deadline and the Cubs are likely being cautious with his usage in order to keep him healthy and preserve his value.

The Cubs’ next closer is undetermined, although Givens would have the edge if he’s not traded. But since he should also be highly-coveted by playoff contenders — he has a 2.72 ERA, 11.2 K/9, 5 holds, and 2 saves — it’s quite possible that Scott Effross, who picked up a save in Monday’s victory, will be the leading candidate for save chances over the final two months of the season.

•Nick Martinez, SDP | RosterResource

Rogers and García had already pitched, so it was Martinez who was next in line with the Padres ahead 6-3 in the Bottom of the 10th against the Tigers. He did allow the runner from 2nd base to score, but held on for his 4th save.

While Martinez’s first three saves were all at least 3-inning outings and this one only happened due to extra innings, it’s clear that he has entered manager Bob Melvin’s circle of trust in a bullpen that is not very trustworthy. He’s now a high-leverage reliever whose last six appearances have been one inning or less. He hasn’t pitched back-to-back days yet, but his last three outings have come on only one day of rest. The only thing that will stop his momentum is the team’s likely need, now that MacKenzie Gore is on the Injured List with an elbow injury, to keep him stretched out and ready to move back into the rotation when necessary.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•Taylor Rogers, SDP | RosterResource

Rogers’ latest blown save could finally move the Padres to make a change at closer. Over his last 20.1 innings pitched, the 31-year-old lefty has allowed 17 earned runs and 25 hits while blowing five of 16 save chances. It’s probably too late to expect that he’ll return to his early-season form when he had a 0.44 ERA and 17 saves in 18 chances in his first 20 appearances.

While there might not be one pitcher who is capable of taking on the load as the primary closer, they do have enough unique options to utilize a matchup-based committee with right-handers Martinez, Garcia, and Nabil Crismatt, and left-hander Adrian Morejon, who could emerge as the frontrunner if he ever proves durable enough to pitch at least every other day.

Additional help could also be on the way in August. Drew Pomeranz (1.62 ERA, 12.0 K/9 in 27 appearances with the Padres in 2020-21) is close to beginning a rehab assignment while Robert Suarez should be activated from the 60-Day IL when he’s eligible on August 5.

More potential good news for Padres:
Lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz faced hitters again this afternoon, and Bob Melvin said the next step is likely a rehab assignment.
Reliever Robert Suarez began his rehab assignment today.

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) July 26, 2022

•Brett Martin, TEX | RosterResource

Whenever a closer is removed from their role due to injury or performance, it’s common for a manager to say that the team will go with a committee even if he’s leaning towards a particular candidate. After that pitcher converts a few consecutive saves, we can then assume that they are the “closer” even though it’s never made official. And this is what happened when Joe Barlow was removed from the closer’s role by Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward, who said that he would be using a matchup-based approach in the 9th inning.

But Woodward didn’t do that. His preferred candidate turned out to be Martin, which was somewhat surprising because the Rangers’ bullpen actually had a diverse group of pitchers who might work well as a committee. But there was no reason to question Woodward after Martin picked up three saves in four days. Two weeks later, though, Martin is stuck on three saves. After allowing three solo homers in his last appearance, he picked up a blown save and loss against the Mariners on Tuesday.

A committee still seems like a pretty good idea, at least until José Leclerc or Jonathan Hernández are ready to take the job. Matt Moore has certainly earned the chance to close out games, although he’ll likely be traded to a contender by the August 2 deadline.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.