Bullpen Report: June 12, 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

•Trevor May, OAK: 31 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Sam Long got Outlier Saves in back-to-back days, but that might leave him unavailable Monday. Lucas Erceg or Sam Moll could close.

•Jason Adam, TBR: 26 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Colin Poche, Robert Stephenson, or Kevin Kelly could close on Monday if Adam’s unavailable.

•A.J. Puk, MIA: 10 pitches on Sunday; 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Puk just came off the IL recently, so the Marlins might not want him working three straight just yet. Dylan Floro or Tanner Scott could close if an opportunity arises.

•José Alvarado, PHI: 30 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Craig Kimbrel should be good to go Monday after 14 pitches in his appearance on Sunday.

Injury News

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: Placed on the 15-day IL (elbow inflammation) on Sunday. | RosterResource

Tough blow for Hendriks, who’d started to get his groove together in five appearances off the IL after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but he’ll now head back for what likely won’t be a minimum stint. The White Sox believe it’s similar to what put him on the IL last season, expecting him to pitch roughly a month, though he’s getting an MRI, after which point we should have a better idea.

Rick Hahn said Liam Hendriks’ injury initially presents as similar to his flexor strain last season, but he’s getting an MRI and too soon to label it as such this time. But Hendriks missed less than a month last season, and the Sox hope he can return similarly this year.

— James Fegan (@JRFegan) June 11, 2023

Kendall Graveman got (and blew) the save chance on Sunday, so he looks like the top option with Hendriks out, with Joe Kelly, Reynaldo López and Keynan Middleton also possibilities.

Outlier Saves

•Chris Martin, BOS | RosterResource

Straightforward Outlier Save here, with Kenley Jansen pitching the bottom of the ninth in a tie game before giving way to Martin for the tenth inning in a 3-2 game. The zombie runner was on third with one out, but Martin got back-to-back Ks to end the game for his first save of the season. He spent some time on the IL but has been a valuable setup man when out there, with a 2.29 ERA and an excellent 16:2 K:BB in 19.2 innings of work.

•Sam Long, OAK | RosterResource

Long got an Outlier Save on Saturday, and he picked up another on Sunday cleaning up Trevor May’s mess after he threw just 14 of his 31 pitches for strikes, giving up a hit but recording the final out to complete the sweep of the Brewers. Long’s proving worthy of higher leverage, lowering his ERA to 2.96 with a solid 1.07 WHIP.

•Scott McGough, ARI | RosterResource

Miguel Castro threw just four pitches Friday and didn’t pitch Saturday, so it was notable to see McGough get the last two outs in relief of Andrew Chafin on Sunday. For now, though, we’ll just call this an Outlier and assume Castro and Chafin are the co-closers right now. McGough threw eight of ten pitches for strikes and struck out a batter, continuing a streak that hasn’t seen him allow an earned run since May 12, with 22 strikeouts in 14.2 innings in that time. He’s also given up just five hits during his excellent run.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•Trevor May, OAK | RosterResource

May had been on quite the roll since being activated from the IL after taking time away with anxiety, allowing just one run in eight appearances spanning 8.2 innings, picking up a couple saves in the process. But the control issues that plagued May before his IL stint reared their ugly heads again on Sunday, as May walked three batters with just 14 strikes out of 31 pitches, recording just two outs. Ultimately, his ERA rose to 7.04 in 15.1 innings, with 13 walks in that time.

Part of the A’s success during their five-game winning streak has been the bullpen, and the team at least currently looks to have the depth to withstand moving May to lower leverage if needed. Sam Long has gotten saves two days in a row, and Lucas Erceg’s stuff is tantalizing. Sam Moll and Richard Lovelady are additional options from the left side.