Bullpen Report: June 26, 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

•Tanner Houck, BOS: 7 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Houck has now earned five saves on the season and while he has given up two earned runs in his last four appearances as the closer, he seems to have pinned down the role for now. John Schreiber is also on “High Usage Alert” after back-to-back days. That makes Matt Strahm the most likely candidate to fill in for a save chance if one comes up.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 12 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Setup man Michael Fulmer has also thrown back-to-back days and will likely be unavailable on Sunday making Andrew Chafin the man to speculate for a save.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 16 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | Roster Resource

Both Seth Lugo and Adam Ottavino should be available on Sunday.

•David Bednar, PIT: 16 pitches on Saturday, two of last three days. | Roster Resource

Setup man Wil Crowe threw 21 pitches on Saturday and may need rest on Sunday. If both Bednar and Crowe are unavailable, Chris Stratton is the likely candidate for a save opportunity.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 36 pitches on Saturday. | Roster Resource

Helsley took over in the eighth inning after Giovanny Gallegos (32 pitches) gave up a two-run home run to Rafael Ortega, tying the game at three apiece. The takeover started out shaky as Helsely walked his first batter and then allowed the runner to advance to second on a wild pitch. He was eventually able to gain his composure and got out of the inning leaving the game tied. The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the eighth and Helsley came back out in the top of the ninth to close out the game. With so many pitches thrown by both Helsely and Gallegos, it’s hard to imagine either will be available on Sunday. That could give Zack Thompson a chance to close out a game if necessary.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Erik Swanson, SEA | Roster Resource

Paul Sewald was likely unavailable on Saturday after converting back-to-back saves the two days prior. With a lead in the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Borucki faced Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Jared Walsh and forced each of them into outs on balls in play. Borucki then came back out for the eighth, but gave up a lead-off single and was pulled thereafter. It was Diego Castillo who came in and got a double-play ball and then a fly-out and sent the game to the ninth. Borucki has been solid lately, giving up only one run in his last six appearances and earning two holds in that time. Diego Castillo has also performed well lately, giving up only one earned run in his last 11 appearances and earning two saves in that time.

It is unclear as to why it was Castillo in the eighth and Swanson in the ninth and not vice-versa. Swanson got the job done, but the way in which he did it may have made Mariners fans uneasy. Two walks, one of which was intentional to Mike Trout, placed runners on second and third with two outs and Shohei Ohtani at the plate. This inning could be analyzed much further as this decision put the go-ahead run at the plate. Had Ohtani not recorded a fly-ball out, I’m sure the analysis would have occurred. Swanson has been performing well as of late (no earned runs in his last six appearances), but don’t expect him to be closing out games on a regular basis moving forward.

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing a Grip

•None