Bullpen Report: June 17, 2021

The 2021 version of Bullpen Report includes five differentßsections, 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.

Notable Workloads

•Lucas Sims, CIN: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 22 pitches on Wednesday. | RostersResource

Sean Doolittle and Heath Hembree are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if Sims isn’t available.

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 3 consecutive days; 12 pitches on Wednesday James Karinchak, CLE: 3 consecutive days; 4 of last 5 days; 7 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Bryan Shaw threw 27 pitches on Wednesday. Nick Wittgren is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if neither Clase, Karinchal, nor Shaw is available.

•Michael Fulmer, DET: 20 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Gregory Soto and José Cisnero are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday, especially if Fulmer isn’t available.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Back-to-back days; 21 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Zack Britton and Chad Green are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if Chapman isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•Ian Kennedy, TEX: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

The Rangers had no saves and a 2-6 record while Kennedy was out, meaning we’re not really much closer to knowing who would be the team’s primary candidate for save chances if the 36-year-old is traded to a contender sometime in the next month-and-a-half.

On Thursday, Kennedy returned to action in a non-save situation, allowing a solo homer to Jose Altuve in the team’s 8-4 loss to the Astros.

 

Outlier Saves

•Adam Ottavino, BOS | RosterResource

Ottavino allowed a run on two hits, but was able to close out a 10-8 win over the Braves on Thursday with closer Matt Barnes likely unavailable after pitching back-to-back days. It was the 35-year-old’s fourth save of the season to along with 13 holds. His current pace gives him a shot at surpassing his career-high total of 40 combined saves and holds in 2018 (6 saves; 34 holds).

 

 

Committee Clarity

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE | RosterResource

Clase and Karinchak continue to be one of the most effective late-inning relief tandems in baseball, although Clase has now picked up three of the team’s last four saves. With a perfect inning to close out an 8-7 win over the Orioles on Thursday, the 23-year-old now has 11 saves and an 0.94 ERA while Karinchak has seven saves and seven holds to go along with a 2.37 ERA and 16.0 K/9.

•Michael Fulmer, DET | RosterResource

In his second appearance since returning from an 11-day stint on the Injured List, Fulmer picked up his fifth save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Royals. He did make things interesting, allowing back-to-back run-scoring hits with two outs before ending things on a Salvador Perez strikeout.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.