Bullpen Report: June 18, 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

•Jorge López, BAL: Three of the last four days; 22 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Félix Bautista has also been worked hard lately, so that leaves Dillon Tate as the likeliest Saturday closer. Lefty Cionel Pérez is also an option.

•Tanner Rainey, WSN: 25 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Top setup man Kyle Finnegan threw 36 pitches while pitching in both games of the doubleheader, so he definitely won’t be available. That leaves Carl Edwards Jr. (who threw 20 pitches himself) as the likeliest closer on Saturday, if needed.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Enyel De Los Santos, CLE | RosterResource

Emmanuel Clase has been nothing short of a rock lately, pitching in each of the Guardians’ last four games prior to Friday, saving each of them. So he got a much-needed day off on Friday, with De Los Santos ultimately getting the ball in the tenth with a one-run lead and one out, after Anthony Gose stayed in to strike out Freddie Freeman. De Los Santos went groundout, walk, strikeout to earn his first career save.

The 26-year-old righty has become a key member of Terry Francona’s bullpen despite starting the season in the minors, with a 2.45 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.

•Brad Boxberger, MIL | RosterResource

With Josh Hader on the paternity list, the guess had been that Devin Williams would be the sole closer for the few days that Hader’s away from the team. Craig Counsell elected to use Williams against the top of the order in his typical eighth inning, though, leaving the ninth to the veteran Boxberger. It got a little hairy for Boxberger, with a single and a walk surrendered, but he induced a flyout from the pinch-hitting Joey Votto to end things for his first save of 2022 and 82nd of his career.

Committee Clarity

•Tanner Houck, BOS | RosterResource

The clarity here is that Houck might just be the closer now! He’s gotten each of Boston’s last three saves, getting out of a jam that Austin Davis left for him on Friday evening with two outs in the ninth. Houck has brought some much-needed stability to the Red Sox bullpen that’s been pretty bereft of reliable options over the course of the season, at least as far as the end of games is concerned. John Schreiber, Matt Strahm, Hansel Robles and Jake Diekman will continue to play key setup roles.

•Brad Hand, PHI| RosterResource

Let’s not read too much into a sample size of one, but it’s nonetheless worth noting that Hand was the first to get a save opportunity in the post-Corey Knebel era in the ninth for the Phillies. He wasn’t sharp, needing 23 pitches (only 14 of which were strikes) to lock down game one of the doubleheader, but he managed to get it done for his second save of the season.

The veteran lefty has been great in his first season with the Phillies, with a 1.86 ERA in 19.1 innings, along with 21 strikeouts, though he’s walked 11. Righty Seranthony Domínguez should share closing duties with Hand for now.

Losing A Grip

•None