Bullpen Report: June 10, 2023

The 2023 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

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

•Félix Bautista, BAL: Three of the last four days; 10 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Bautista’s availability is borderline, with 21 pitches Thursday and 11 Tuesday meaning things have been manageable of late. Yennier Cano has also worked three-of-four but with just 20 pitches total the last two days, so it seems probable he’ll be available Saturday. Bryan Baker and Danny Coulombe are also possibilities.

•Kendall Graveman, CHW: Three of the last four days; 14 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Graveman’s never pitched three straight days, so he’ll be down on Saturday in all likelihood. Co-closer Liam Hendriks should be good to go.

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 38 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Brock Stewart threw 24 pitches Friday, so his availability is up in the air. That could leave a save chance to Griffin Jax, Emilio Pagán, or the mightily struggling Jorge López.

•Mark Leiter Jr., CHC: 26 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Adbert Alzolay has worked back-to-back days, so he might not be available either. That leaves Michael Fulmer as the likeliest closer, or Brandon Hughes in a left-on-left situation.

•Carlos Estévez, COL: Three of the last four days; 24 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Chris Devenski is the likeliest closer on Saturday.

Injury News

•José Alvarado, PHI: Activated from the 15-day IL (elbow inflammation) on Friday. | RosterResource

Alvarado avoided serious injury, fortunately, but he still went over a month between MLB appearances, pitching on Friday after making his most recent appearance on May 7th. He was thrown right back into the fire—and why wouldn’t he be, given his 0.63 ERA before getting hurt—pitching a scoreless eighth in a tie game. He should share opportunities with Craig Kimbrel, who’s been up and down this year but has been much better of late, allowing just two runs in his last 12 innings.

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•The Rockies | RosterResource

#Rockies Bud Black has taken Pierce Johnson out of closer role, as expected.

Candidate’s to replace Johnson include Justin Lawrence and Jake Bird.

Black didn’t say who will be 9th inning guy going forward.

— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) June 9, 2023

Pierce Johnson had really lost his grip awhile ago, so we’ll cover the current Rockies situation in this section instead. It’s somewhat notable that Bud Black didn’t name a closer or give options, but Lawrence feels like the likeliest, earning the team’s two most recent saves and pitching very well this season. Lawrence and Bird alike are both workhorses, though, so Black might prefer to keep them in the middle innings. Brent Suter is in the same boat, but fellow lefty Brad Hand has the most closing experience on the team, so maybe he gets the first crack at things. I wouldn’t consider Daniel Bard an option; he’s just walked far too many this season.

Losing A Grip

•None