Bullpen Report: June 10, 2021

The 2021 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. 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.

1. Injury News 
2. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
3. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
4. 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. Click HERE to view the “Closer News” segment on this week’s episode of “The RosterResource Show”.

Notable Workloads

•Will Smith, ATL: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 16 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Chris Martin is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Smith isn’t available.

•Daniel Bard, COL: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 16 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Mychal Givens is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Bard isn’t available.

•José Cisnero, DET: Back-to-back days; 8 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Gregory Soto is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday, especially if Cisnero isn’t available.

•Kenley Jansen, LAD: Back-to-back days; 24 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Blake Treinen threw 22 pitches on Wednesday. Victor González, Jimmy Nelson, and Nate Jones are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if neither Jansen nor Treinen is available.

•Lou Trivino, OAK: Back-to-back days; 11 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Jake Diekman is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday, especially if Trivino isn’t available.

•Tyler Rogers, SFG: 28 pitches on Wednesday; Jake McGee, SFG: Back-to-back days; 7 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Zack Littell is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if neither Rogers nor McGee is available.

•Brad Hand, WSN: 33 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Daniel Hudson threw 31 pitches on Wednesday. Wander Suero is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if neither Hand nor Hudson is available.

 

Injury News

•Ian Kennedy, TEX: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained hamstring) | RosterResource

Kennedy’s injury, which is retroactive to June 6, is considered mild and he could be back in action as early as next Wednesday at Houston or the weekend series at home versus Minnesota.

In the meantime, the Rangers’ top options for save chances include the hard-throwing Josh Sborz, as well as lefties Brett Martin and John King. Save chances could be few and far between on this team, but it could be a terrific opportunity for someone to step up and become the clear “next in line” for when Kennedy is inevitably traded to a contender sometime in July.

 

Outlier Saves

•Cristian Javier, HOU | RosterResource

The Astros have resisted turning Javier loose in a traditional bullpen role, which would potentially result in him becoming a late-inning setup man who can pitch 3-4 times per week. Instead, he’s continued on a starting pitcher’s regular schedule with three multi-inning appearances in 13 days since being moved to the bullpen. On Wednesday, he entered the game with a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning and never departed. He finished with four shutout innings to close out an 8-3 win over the Red Sox and pick up his first career save.

For now, he’ll likely continue in the same role where he’s in a position to easily transition back to the rotation if needed.

 

•Tanner Rainey, WSN | RosterResource

Hand, Hudson, and Kyle Finnegan had already been used and Suero was likely unavailable after throwing 27 pitches on Tuesday. Three other relievers had also pitched on Tuesday, leaving Kyle McGowin and Rainey as the most logical options once the Nationals took an 11-9 lead in the 11th inning against the Rays. Rainey, an offseason favorite to close games for the Nationals prior to Hand signing as a free agent, probably wouldn’t have been the choice for many. He’s been awful this season and as of late, allowing eight earned runs over his last four innings to boost his ERA close to 10.00.

Regardless, manager Dave Martinez gave the 28-year-old a chance on Wednesday. Rainey responded with a scoreless inning to lock down his first save of 2021.

With close to eight weeks remaining until the trade deadline, Rainey still has a chance to bounce back and put himself in the driver’s seat for save chances in the likely scenario where Hand and Hudson are both traded.

 

Committee Clarity

•Jordan Romano, TOR | RosterResource

Romano is the Jays’ best reliever and is the top choice for a save chance when he is available at the end of the game. On Wednesday, however, he was needed prior to the end of the game. With his team ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth, he was brought in to face the heart of the White Sox’s order starting with leadoff man Tim Anderson. After walking Anderson on four pitches, he recovered to retire the next three batters and send the game to the ninth with a two-run lead intact.

Once the Jays extended the lead to 6-2, there was no save chance in the ninth, although Tim Mayza might’ve been the choice to pitch either way. The likelier options, Anthony Castro and Tyler Chatwood, had already pitched and Rafael Dolis threw 26 pitches on Tuesday. The left-handed Mayza, who has struggled badly since a strong start to the season, pitched a scoreless ninth to close things out.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.