Bullpen Report: June 2, 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.

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

•Daniel Robertson, CHC: Back-to-back days; 12 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Rowan Wick has also pitched back-to-back days. Mychal Givens is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if neither Robertson nor Wick is available.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 42 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Tyler Kinley and Alex Colomé are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday.

•Anthony Bass, MIA: 25 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if Bass isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•Matt Barnes, BOS: Placed on 15-Day IL (shoulder inflammation) | RosterResource

There is a chance that shoulder inflammation has contributed to Barnes’ struggles — he has a 7.94 ERA and 12 walks in 17 innings pitched — but it’s more likely that the Red Sox are just giving him some time to regroup before trying to work things out during an eventual rehab assignment.

In the meantime, the Red Sox are probably beyond the point where they expect the 31-year-old to be their closer again. They need to fix their bullpen now and it’s clear that Barnes will not be a part of that solution. Some potential solutions, however, are emerging.

Tanner Houck is beginning to look like one of those after picking up his first hold with two scoreless innings to preserve a 4-1 lead on Wednesday against the Reds. Once the Red Sox tacked on three runs in the bottom of the 8th, there was no longer a save chance for John Schreiber, who still came on to close out the 7-1 win with a scoreless 9th.

Between Houck (1 ER in last 14 IP), Schreiber (1.32 ERA, BB, 14 K), and their trio of reliable left-handers — Jake Diekman, Matt Strahm, and Austin Davis — the Red Sox are in halfway-decent shape in the late innings even if Garrett Whitlock never returns from the starting rotation.

 

Closer News

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD | RosterResource

After allowing a run in his third consecutive appearance on Monday, Kimbrel is getting a few days off to work on his mechanics.

#Dodgers bullpen note: Dave Roberts said the team has been giving Craig Kimbrel a couple days to clean up some mechanics. Said Kimbrel has been too rotational in his delivery.

Kimbrel is down tonight, but will pitch again by Friday

— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) June 1, 2022

While the Dodgers are still 16 games above .500 after being swept by the Pirates, their bullpen is vulnerable with Kimbrel struggling and Blake Treinen likely out for at least the remainder of the 1st half because of a shoulder injury. Several others have picked up the slack, including journeymen Evan Phillips and Yency Almonte, but it could be difficult to run away in the NL West if they can’t rely on Kimbrel and Treinen down the stretch.

 

Outlier Saves

•Nick Wittgren, STL | RosterResource

On a day when both of their top relievers, Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley, were likely unavailable, the Cardinals took a 5-1 lead into the 9th inning. The lower-leverage assignment went to Kodi Whitley, who allowed a solo homer to Luke Voit before loading the bases with two outs. Now a save situation, Wittgren got the call to face off against pinch-hitter Robinson Canó.

In what very well could be Canó’s final at-bat in the big leagues — the 39-year-old will reportedly be released on Thursday — he just missed hitting a go-ahead grand slam. Instead, Corey Dickerson made the catch for the final out and Wittgren picked up his first save.

•Matt Wisler, TBR | RosterResource

Outlier saves are rare for the Rays because they are typically unpredictable when it comes to save chances and have several relievers who are capable of closing out a win. But, at least recently, they would seem to favor Colin Poche and J.P. Feyereisen in the 9th inning.

On Wednesday, Feyereisen pitched a scoreless 9th to preserve a 2-2 tie and preserve his 0.00 ERA in 2022. After the Rays took the lead in the top of the 10th, Poche got the save chance in the bottom half. He didn’t get the job done, however, allowing a game-tying single to Adolis García. When the Rays scored again in the top of the 11th, Wisler would be the team’s 6th reliever to enter the game in the bottom half of the inning.

The 29-year-old Wisler retired all three batters he faced, stranding the runner at second base to finish off the 4-3 win and pick up his first save. Remarkably, his 2.45 ERA is only good for fifth-best in the Rays’ current 9-man bullpen.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•Dany Jiménez, OAK | RosterResource

With Lou Trivino on the COVID-19 IL after struggling early in the season, Jiménez seized the opportunity and had clearly taken over as the Athletics’ primary closer by late April. Over a span of 13 appearances, the 28-year-old posted a 0.68 ERA and converted all nine of his save chances. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to prove that he’s capable of bouncing back from his recent rough patch.

After allowing three runs in a loss on May 27, he blew his first save of the season in his next appearance on May 29. On Wednesday, he was handed a 3-1 lead over the Houston Astros in the 9th inning. He allowed back-to-back singles, followed by a walk to load the bases. He struck out Kyle Tucker, but walked the next batter to force in a run. With lefty slugger Yordan Alvarez coming up to bat, the A’s removed Jiménez in favor of lefty Sam Selman. Alvarez hit a bases-clearing double to put the Astros ahead for good and saddle Jiménez with his second blown save and third loss.

Trivino has been better since returning from the Injured List (8 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 15 K since May 6), but A.J. Puk might be next in line for save chances if Jiménez continues to struggle. The 27-year-old lefty lowered his ERA to 1.29 after pitching 1.1 scoreless innings on Wednesday. It’s also possible that the A’s return to what was more of a closer’s committee in April with Zach Jackson and Domingo Acevedo also in the mix.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.