Bullpen Report: June 13, 2021

NEW FEATURE ALERT! We have added an upgraded version of RosterResource’s Closer Depth Chart to FanGraphs. Read more about it here.

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.

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. 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.)

Notable Workloads

•Raisel Iglesias, LAA: 16 pitches on Saturday, 3 of last 4 days. | RosterResource

Steve Cishek (“Reliever of the Rise”) and Tony Watson are likely candidates for save opportunities if Iglesias is unavailable on Sunday.

• Rafael Montero, SEA: 30 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

It is likely that Kendall Graveman will regain the closer role moving forward (see “Committee Clarity” section) and is the likely candidate for a save opportunity should one arise on Sunday.

• Edwin Díaz, NYM: 10 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Seth Lugo (17 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days) is also currently tagged with a “High Usage Alert”, but may still be available on Sunday. If not, Trevor May is a likely candidate for a save opportunity.

• Héctor Neris, PHI: 30 pitches on Saturday, 2 of last 3 days. | RosterResource

Sam Coonrod (22 pitches on Saturday) could also be unavailable on Sunday, making José Alvarado and Connor Brogdon likely candidates for a save opportunity. This is a bullpen to keep an eye on (see “Losing a Grip” section).

• Brad Hand, WSN: 27 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Hand appeared out of the pen in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday. With Daniel Hudson landing on the IL and the rest of the National’s pen on “High Usage Alert”, Wander Suero is a likely candidate for a save opportunity on Sunday.

• Craig Kimbrel, CHC: 3 pitches on Saturday, 3 of last 4 days. | RosterResource

Kimbrel came into the bottom of the ninth with two outs and only needed three pitches to record the save as the tying run was in the on-deck circle. Kimbrel may still be available on Sunday if needed in high leverage, but if he gets the day off, Ryan Tepera is a likely candidate for a save opportunity.

• Josh Hader, MIL: 10 pitches on Saturday, 2 of last 3 days. | RosterResource

Devin Williams and Brent Sutter are likely candidates for save opportunities if Hader is unavailable on Sunday.

• Stefan Crichton, ARI: 15 pitches on Saturday, 3 of last 4 days. | RosterResource

Things could be shifting in Arizona’s bullpen as Crichton was used in a non-save situation on Saturday (see “Committee Clarity” section). Joakim Soria and Taylor Clarke are likely candidates for save opportunities on Sunday if Crichton is unavailable or used in a different role.

• Jake McGee, SFG: 20 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

The co-closer in San Francisco will most likely be available on Sunday, but if he needs the day off, co-closer Tyler Rogers should be the man for the job if a save situation presents itself.

Injury News

•Daniel Hudson, WSN  | RosterResource

Working as the setup man to closer Brad Hand, Hudson has recorded four wins and zero saves on the year thus far. This injury moves Kyle Finnegan and Wander Suero into setup roles and will likely be candidates for save opportunities when Hand is unavailable.

Here's a bunch more on today's flurry of roster moves, most notably Daniel Hudson going on the 10-day IL with elbow inflammation. https://t.co/ItGc2MVJJH

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) June 12, 2021

Outlier Saves

•Dylan Floro, MIA  | RosterResource

Yimi García got the night off, Anthony Bass pitched in the eighth and gave up two runs on two hits, and Floro came in to close out the game in the top of the ninth. Bass, who was presumed by many to be the closer at the beginning of the season, has recorded three losses and four blown saves with a 3.97 ERA/4.71 xERA this season. Floro, on the other hand, has been more stable with a 3.46 ERA/3.21 xERA and seems more trustworthy in save situations.

•Caleb Baragar, SFG  | RosterResource

Tyler Rogers worked the sixth inning and Jake McGee, who recorded the win, worked the seventh in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Both relievers were used in high leverage situations as the game was locked in a scoreless tie in both appearances. After the Giants offense cracked the game open in the eighth (extra innings), Baragar was brought in to close it out in the bottom of the frame. The extra innings rule runner scored off a Starlin Castro double, but Baragar was able to shut the door after that and record his first career big league save.

Committee Clarity

•Rafael Montero, SEA  | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman entered the game in the eighth inning on Saturday in a non-save situation. It seems like this was simply to ease Graveman back into gameplay after a covid-IL stint. Though Graveman gave up one earned run on a Cesar Hernandez home run, he kept the Mariners in the game and limited the damage. Montero came into the bottom of the ninth with a two-run lead and blew the save, walking two and giving up three earned runs on two hits. Montero’s appearance on Saturday makes it more likely that Graveman should be (and likely will be) the primary closer moving forward.

•Stefan Crichton, ARI  | RosterResource

Crichton was used in the seventh inning on Saturday and Joakim Soria for the save in the ninth. This could indicate a closer change in Arizona, but Soria allowed 3 runs and blew the save, which probably means that their closer situation is up in the air. While the save opportunities haven’t come often for the Diamondbacks in 2021, it appears as if roles are shifting or, at the very least, being experimented with.

Losing a Grip

•Héctor Neris, PHI | RosterResource

Neris had a rough outing on Saturday (1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR) and recorded his fourth blown save of the season. This isn’t the first time this season that it has felt like Neris could be on the hot seat, but he had recorded 8.1 scoreless innings prior to back-to-back blown saves and the Phillies’ alternatives for the closer role have not been good as of late. Manager Joe Girardi also has not mentioned anything about a change. Neris should continue to be the man for the job in Philadelphia, but this is something to keep an eye on.

Joe Girardi just spoke, he's sticking with Héctor Neris as closer.

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) June 13, 2021

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.