Bullpen Report: June 1, 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: Back-to-back days; 9 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Ian Kennedy is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Melancon isn’t available.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: 3 consecutive days; 11 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Jake McGee is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Doval isn’t available. Dominic Leone (3 of last 4 days) and Tyler Rogers (33 pitches on Tuesday) could also be in the mix if they are available.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Back-to-back days; 27 pitches on Tuesday; Ryan Helsley, STL: Back-to-back days; 18 pitches on Tuesday | RosterResource

Génesis Cabrera is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if neither Gallegos nor Holmes is available.

•Joe Barlow, TEX: Back-to-back days; 9 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Matt Bush is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Barlow isn’t available.

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Wil Crowe, CIN | RosterResource

With closer David Bednar unavailable after a 50-pitch outing on Monday, the Pirates figured to go with some combination of Chris Stratton and Crowe to close out a potential second consecutive win against the Dodgers. Leading 4-3 in the 8th inning, it was Stratton who got the call to face Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, and Gavin Lux. He struck out all three batters on 15 pitches.

An inning later, the Pirates had extended their lead to 5-3, giving Crowe a bit more breathing room as he would face off against Kevin Pillar, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. While he didn’t strike any of them out, he did retire them in order to close out the win and pick up his 2nd save.

At 21-27, the Pirates are proving to be a competitive group that can win against some of the best teams in baseball. Bednar’s emergence as one of the best closer’s in the league is a major reason why, but Crowe has also been terrific in his first season pitching in relief.

 

Committee Clarity

•Tony Santillan, CIN | RosterResource

After beginning the season with a save, hold, and 3.1 scoreless innings over his first three appearances, Santillan quickly lost any trust he had gained by allowing a run in five of his next eight appearances. Over that span, the Reds lost a majority of their games and had very few bright spots. Therefore, Santillan didn’t fall as far out of favor as probably would’ve been expected.

The 25-year-old didn’t pitch for a week after an outing on May 10 in which he didn’t retire any of the three batters he faced (2B, HBP, BB). Since returning to action, however, Santillan had pitched six scoreless innings with two saves and two holds coming into Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox. If it wasn’t already clear that he had returned to manager David Bell’s circle of trust, it would’ve been once he entered the game with a 2-0 lead in the 9th inning at Fenway Park. And while it wasn’t pretty — he gave up three hits, including a two-out RBI single — he struck out the red-hot Trevor Story to strand the tying and go-ahead runs on base and pick up his 4th save.

With the Reds playing much better baseball — they’ve won 13 of 22 — there should be more save opportunities available. And with rookie Alexis Díaz mainly being used in a setup role and Art Warren possibly pitching himself out of the mix after a diastrous outing on Sunday (0 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, BB), Santillan could be starting to separate himself from the other closer candidates.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.