Bullpen Report: June 2, 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.

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

•Cole Sulser, BAL: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

The Orioles have a fluid ninth-inning situation, and so they’ve got plenty of fill-in options; César Valdez, Paul Fry and Tanner Scott are the likeliest.

•James Karinchak, CLE: 25 pitches on Tuesday; 25 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Emmanuel Clase would be the top choice in a save spot on Wednesday.

•Jake Diekman, OAK: 26 pitches on Tuesday; 12 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Lou Trivino would be the top choice in a save spot on Wednesday.

•J.P. Feyereisen, TBR: 20 pitches on Tuesday; 14 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource
•Pete Fairbanks, TBR: Three straight days; 19 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource
•Andrew Kittredge, TBR: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Diego Castillo could be the only frequently-used member of the Rays’ closer committee available on Wednesday. Ryan Thompson, Jeffrey Springs and Collin McHugh could be factors as well.

•Brad Hand, WSN: 24 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Hand will probably be available on Wednesday, but if not, Daniel Hudson would fill in.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Cole Sulser, BAL | RosterResource

The Orioles were in the middle of their 14-game losing streak when journeyman César Valdez was removed from the closer role, and because of said losing streak we had to wait quite awhile for ninth-inning clarity. Sulser was tasked with stopping the over-two-week skid and made it interesting, allowing a hit and a walk but ultimately permitting no runs, holding the three-run lead.

Sulser’s been brilliant this year, striking out just about 40% of batters faced while walking under 10%. However, he’s not exactly a proven commodity, and other Orioles relievers (most notably Paul Fry) have pitched well also, so Sulser might be a closer rather than the closer.

Losing A Grip

•James Karinchak, CLE | RosterResource

Karinchak’s bottom-line numbers remain excellent, but he’s undoubtedly hit a rough patch of late. In his last five appearances, Karinchak has allowed nine runs (seven earned) in just four innings of work, walking six and striking out only six of 27 batters faced.

This doesn’t necessarily portend anything bad for Karinchak’s future—it’s a long season and his command is known to get out of whack at times—but he nonetheless may work in somewhat-lower-leverage outings for the time being. Emmanuel Clase is the odds-on favorite to take the ninth inning (he’s been co-closing with Karinchak anyway) if Karinchak needs a reset, but Bryan Shaw has been dominant as well.

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.