Bullpen Report: July 8, 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

•Mark Melancon, ARI: 3 of last 4 days; 21 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Joe Mantiply is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday if Melancon isn’t available.

•Jorge López, BAL: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 17 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Félix Bautista is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday if López isn’t available.

•Daniel Bard, COL: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Alex Colomé is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday if Bard isn’t available.

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD: Back-to-back days; 31 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Brusdar Graterol will likely be unavailable on Friday after leaving Thursday’s game with an injury. Evan Phillips is a likely candidate for a save chance if Kimbrel isn’t available.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 26 pitches on Thursday. Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Back-to-back days; 18 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Zack Thompson and Junior Fernández are likely candidates for a save chance on Friday if neither Helsley nor Gallegos is available.

 

Injury Report

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Alex Vesia, LAD | RosterResource

Kimbrel was removed in the ninth inning after throwing 31 pitches with two runners on and two outs, one run in, and lefty batter Alfonso Rivas representing the go-ahead run. Vesia entered for the lefty-lefty matchup and the Cubs countered with pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez, who struck out to end the game.

The 26-year-old Vesia could get more opportunities to finish games if the Dodgers go with a closer’s committee at some point, which would be fun because his post-save celebration is very good.

8-1 in their last 9.

The @Dodgers are FIRED UP. pic.twitter.com/GjjHy2El7h

— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2022

 

•Packy Naughton, STL | RosterResource

The fifth and final Cardinals’ reliever to be used in Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Braves, Naughton entered in the bottom of the 11th and quickly recorded three outs on only seven pitches to strand the tying run at second base and pick up his 1st career save.

While he’s unlikely to get much high-leverage work behind fellow lefties Génesis Cabrera, who is expected back from the COVID-19 IL soon, and rookie Zack Thompson, he has been terrific out of the bullpen with one earned run allowed in 13.1 innings.

 

Committee Clarity

•Seranthony Domínguez, PHI | RosterResource

Since Corey Knebel was removed from the closer’s role in mid-June, the Phillies’ bullpen has completely turned things around and become a team strength. Not only has Knebel been much better in his role as a setup man, Brad Hand, José Alvarado, Andrew Bellatti, and Nick Nelson have all been terrific. And, yet, it’s Domínguez who continues to stand out above the crowd.

After closing out a 5-3 win over the Nationals on Thursday for his third save, Domínguez lowered his ERA to 1.74 with only seven walks and 40 strikeouts in 31 innings. He’s been sharing the closer’s role with Hand, but it’s becoming clearer and clearer that he’s their bullpen ace and the guy that opposing hitters don’t want to face when down to their last three outs.

 

Losing A Grip

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD | RosterResource

Kimbrel didn’t blow a save on Thursday and the Dodgers beat the Cubs to improve their record to 53-29. So, why is he here again? Because he turned a seemingly easy save situation into an adventure that he couldn’t finish because his pitch count had exceeded 30 pitches.

The good news is that Kimbrel avoided the Injured List after being hit with a comebacker over the weekend. He returned to action on Wednesday and threw a scoreless 9th inning on only five pitches to preserve a 1-1 tie. But Thursday’s roller coaster of an outing — he recorded two outs, both on strikeouts, while allowing one run, two hits, and a walk — is more like what has come to be expected from the 34-year-old, who has 14 saves in 17 chances and a 4.82 ERA in his first season with the Dodgers.

Graterol, who left Thursday’s game due to side discomfort, would likely be next in line for save chances if he doesn’t require an Injured List stint. If he does, the Dodgers could turn to some combination of Phillips, Yency Almonte, and Vesia if manager Dave Roberts feels that it’s necessary to remove Kimbrel, at least temporarily, from the closer’s role.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.