Bullpen Report: June 13, 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.

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

•Paul Sewald, SEA: 25 pitches on Sunday; 18 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Diego Castillo will be the closer in all likelihood on Monday, if a situation arises.

•Joe Barlow, TEX: 25 pitches on Sunday; 23 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Matt Bush and Brock Burke were both held out of action on Sunday, so either should be available for a save Monday.

•Kenley Jansen, ATL: Three of the last four days; 12 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

A.J. Minter and Will Smith are the likeliest closers on Monday if Jansen is unavailable. Minter has also worked three of the last four days, but only threw two pitches on Friday.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Cionel Pérez, BAL | RosterResource

Closer Jorge López worked both Friday and Saturday, and even though he combined for only 21 pitches in the two outings, Brandon Hyde elected to keep him out of action in a game the Orioles once led 6-0 and 9-3—a game that he probably thought wouldn’t require a closer. The lefty Pérez didn’t exactly make quick work of the Royals, throwing just 12 of 23 pitches for strikes, but he did hurl a scoreless inning nonetheless. His ERA now stands at a sparkling 0.93, and he’s a key member of what’s been an underrated Orioles bullpen.

•Manny Bañuelos, NYY | RosterResource

There aren’t often saves in 18-4 ballgames, and when there are, they’re of the three-inning variety. Bañuelos earned his first big league save with three innings of one-run pitching against the Cubs, striking out four. He’s been a nice story, returning to his original organization after years as a top prospect, finally making to the Majors with them after stints with the Braves and White Sox. He’s now allowed just the one run in seven innings as a low-leverage long-reliever.

•Kolby Allard, TEX | RosterResource

After Joe Barlow blew his 11th-inning save opportunity, it was Allard’s turn in the 12th after the Rangers retook the lead in the top of the inning. Allard only needed seven pitches and two batters to retire the side, thanks to zombie runner Luis Robert blundering his way to the third out. Robert tagged up on a fly ball to left with one out, making it safely but over sliding and being tagged for the third out, an especially-indefensible error considering he wasn’t even the tying run, so his position on the bases didn’t much matter. For Allard, it was his first career save.

•Jake McGee, SFG | RosterResource

Camilo Doval has been pitching in something of a fireman role for the Giants lately, coming in whenever there’s a big jam to get out of. On Saturday, that led to Doval picking up the win with José Álvarez closing in his place. On Sunday, it appears Doval was simply unavailable. Carlos Rodón shoved for six innings, and John Brebbia and Dominic Leone turned in two scoreless innings of their own before McGee shut the Dodgers down on just nine pitches for his third save of the year.

It’s been a struggle for McGee this year, though a reset on the injured list has seemed to do him some good. He’s turned in six scoreless innings since his activation.

Committee Clarity

•Tanner Houck, BOS | RosterResource

Houck’s now gotten both of Boston’s last two saves, and with Hansel Robles having blown his save opportunity on Saturday, Houck might be in pole position as Red Sox closer. Houck’s perfect inning on just eight pitches lowered his ERA to 3.38, with 41 strikeouts in 42.2 innings split between the rotation and bullpen. For now, though, it looks like he’s a reliever, and a very important one at that.

Losing A Grip

•None