Bullpen Report: June 22, 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

•Kendall Graveman, CHW: Back-to-back days; 16 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Joe Kelly is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday, especially if Graveman isn’t available.

•Taylor Rogers, SDP: Back-to-back days; 10 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Luis García has also pitched back-to-back days (13 pitches on Monday; 14 pitches on Tuesday). Neither has thrown too many pitches in their recent appearances so it’s possible that one or both will be available again on Wednesday. If not, Nabil Crismatt is a likely candidate for a save chance.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 21 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Jake McGee is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Doval isn’t available.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 31 pitches on Tuesday; Giovanny Gallegos, STL: 22 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Génesis Cabrera is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if neither Helsley nor Gallegos is available.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Yimi Garcia is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Romano isn’t available.

 

Injury Report

•Dany Jiménez, OAK: Placed on 15-Day IL (strained shoulder). | RosterResource

Through May 25, Jiménez was making a case for AL Rookie of the Year, as well as an All-Star appearance with an 0.49 ERA and 10 saves in 10 chances. But the 28-year-old hit his first rough patch as a big leaguer, allowing 11 earned runs and blowing a pair of saves over his next five appearances. The only game the A’s won during that span — they went 1-13 — was a walk-off victory after Jiménez had blown a one-run lead in the top of the ninth.

Therefore, it never really seemed as though Jiménez was going to be replaced as the closer because the A’s never seemed as if they were going to win. Now, with Jiménez on the shelf for at least two weeks, they don’t have a choice anymore. Someone else will have to close.

A.J. Puk (1.93 ERA, 28 IP, 23 H, 5 BB, 26 K, 7 Holds) is the leading candidate, although manager Mark Kotsay says they’ll “go with matchups”.

Kotsay said MRI showed no structural damage for Dany Jiménez but they’ll be cautious and make sure he’s 100% before returning. They’ll go with matchups to close out games. A.J. Puk and Zach Jackson mentioned as options to fill that role in Jiménez’s absence.

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) June 21, 2022

In addition to Puk and Zach Jackson, the only other reliever who might possibly be trusted with the game on the line is Domingo Acevedo. Sam Moll has been very good and deserving of a spot in a closer’s committee, but he’ll have to wait until he returns from the COVID-19 IL.

•Ken Giles, SEA: Activated from 60-Day IL. | RosterResource

There is no indication that the Mariners plan on throwing Giles into the mix for save chances anytime soon, but he should eventually get there barring any setbacks. In his first MLB appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2020, the 31-year-old did actually get to close out a win.

Pitching the 9th inning with an 8-2, lead, Giles retired the side in order while throwing several fastballs that registered at either 94 or 95 MPH. While that’s not the 96-98 MPH range that he averaged during his first six major league seasons (2014-2019) while racking up 114 saves, it’s a step in the right direction.

 

Outlier Saves

•John Schreiber, BOS | RosterResource

Up until Tanner Houck finally locked down the Red Sox’s closer job with five saves in the last 10 games, John Schreiber had been the reliever most deserving of save chances. It just never quite came to fruition, mostly due to lack of opportunity during a bad stretch for the team. But the 28-year-old has undoubtedly cemented his spot as the most reliable high-leverage reliever in the Red Sox bullpen.

So, with Houck unavailable after pitching back-to-back days for the first time in his career, it was Schreiber who was called on for the final out in Tuesday’s win over the Tigers.

Left-hander Matt Strahm actually started the inning with a two-run lead, but there was no way he was going to pitch to more than three batters since Javier Báez and Miguel Cabrera were due up fourth and fifth, respectively. A leadoff homer all but ensured that Strahm wouldn’t be closing the game out, but he retired the next two batters before he giving way to Schreiber. After a Báez single, Cabrera grounded out to end the game and give Schreiber his second save. He also lowered his ERA to 0.84.

•Daniel Mengden, KCR | RosterResource

Despite having a closer-worthy mustache — trust me, it’s still awesome — the only reason Mengden was called upon to preserve a 12-10 lead was that he was the last relief pitcher remaining. The other seven had already pitched by the time the Royals took a lead in the top of the 11th inning. All Mengden had to do was hold a two-run lead against the heart of the Angels’ order — Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Jared Walsh — with a runner on second to start the inning.

After a single by Ward put runners at the corners with no outs, the 29-year-old Mengden was quickly on the ropes with Trout representing the winning run. But he went right after the three-time MVP, striking him out on a 93 MPH fastball. Next up was Ohtani, who had already homered twice and drove in seven runs. While he did drive in his eighth run, it was on a sacrifice fly for the second out. Next up was Walsh, who was only a single shy of the cycle. He popped out to end the game and give Mengden his first save.

Not bad for Mengden’s second appearance since returning to the majors after a one-year stint in the KBO. At the least, it’s the kind of performance that should get him some more high-leverage work in a very inconsistent Royals’ bullpen.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.