Bullpen Report: June 29, 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

•Mark Melancon, ARI: 3 of last 4 days; 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Ian Kennedy is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday on Wednesday if Melancon isn’t available.

•Clay Holmes, NYY: 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Michael King threw 20 pitches on Tuesday and has pitched 3 of 4 days. Miguel Castro is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if neither Holmes nor King is available.

•Taylor Rogers, SDP: 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Nabil Crismatt is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Rogers isn’t available.

•Tanner Rainey, WSN: 3 of last 5 days; 20 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Kyle Finnegan is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Rainey isn’t available.

 

Injury Report

•Kenley Jansen, ATL: Placed on 15-Day IL (irregular heartbeat). | RosterResource

With Jansen expected to miss a couple of weeks, Braves’ manager Brian Snitker said that A.J. Minter or Will Smith would close in his absence.

Snitker said the plan is to have either Minter or Will Smith available to close in those games that Jansen misses over the next couple of weeks. They have other options as well, but he made it clear they want Minter and Smith to handle closer duties while Jansen is out.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 28, 2022

As the closer of the World Champions in 2021, Smith would’ve been the obvious choice to take on the role with Jansen out. But Minter has been the better reliever in 2022, which is why he likely has the edge on most days when both are available. This was the case on Tuesday as the 28-year-old lefty was called on to pitch the 9th with a 5-3 lead over the Phillies. He pitched a perfect inning to pick up his first save since 2019.

Collin McHugh, who struck out four of the five batters he faced on Tuesday, could also be in the mix.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Likely done with rehab assignment. | RosterResource

The 34-year-old, who has been out of action for more than a month with Achilles tendinitis, could return to the Yankees as early as Wednesday after pitching the third and likely final game of his rehab assignment on Tuesday.

Aroldis Chapman strikes out two in a perfect inning. This second one was on a 99-mph fastball to end the inning.

Chapman threw 13 pitches. Eight fastballs (two for strikes), three splitters (two called strikes, one foul), and two sliders (got a flyout and a swinging strike). pic.twitter.com/Ehdqm4t2Jj

— Conor Foley (@RailRidersTT) June 29, 2022

Unsurprisingly, Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone hasn’t given a straight answer as to what Chapman’s role will be once he returns. But it’s clear that Clay Holmes has established himself as one of the best relievers in baseball and there is no reason to rush Chapman back into his previous role. And even if he is pitching well, there’s no need for Boone to tie his hands by naming one of Chapman or Holmes as his primary closer when he can keep his opponents guessing.

•David Bednar, PIT: Unavailable on Monday and Tuesday due to lower back discomfort. | RosterResource

It’s very likely that Bednar is on track to be the Pirates’ lone All-Star representative next month, but he’ll have to stay healthy if that’s going to happen. On his road to becoming one of the better relievers in the league, the 27-year-old has carried the team in high-leverage situations. He could be fine after a few days off, but it sounds like a stint on the Injured List is possible.

Derek Shelton said David Bednar has been dealing with a lower back issue. They’re trying to avoid an IL stint, but he’s not available tonight.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) June 28, 2022

If he does miss time, Wil Crowe is the top candidate for save chances, although he entered in the 7th inning of Tuesday’s game against the Nationals with the game tied at one. Had they taken a lead into the 9th inning — they lost 3-1 — Chris Stratton was not likely to be the choice to close out the game. He threw 28 pitches on Monday, not to mention his 10 earned runs allowed over his last nine innings. Chase De Jong or Cam Vieaux would’ve been more likely options.

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Hansel Robles, BOS | RosterResource

With closer Tanner Houck unavailable for the Red Sox’s three-game series in Toronto, it was likely that the team would lean heavily on right-hander John Schreiber in high-leverage situations against a lineup with mostly right-handed batters. But after Schreiber pitched the 7th inning of Tuesday’s game to keep a 4-4 tie intact, manager Alex Cora had a choice to make once the Red Sox took a one-run lead in the top of the 8th. Should he go with his next most trusted relievers, lefties Matt Strahm and Jake Diekman, or go beyond the circle of trust for another right-handed pitcher?

Cora chose the latter, opting for Tyler Danish to face the bottom of the Blue Jays’ order. And that worked out fine in the bottom of the 8th as the journeyman right-hander retired the side in order. But a second inning for Danish did not go well. He allowed a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk before walking George Springer and giving way to Robles, who had pitched a scoreless inning against Toronto on Monday. Four pitches later, however, the game was over after back-to-back RBI singles by Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr..

Houck will be reinstated from the Restricted List prior to Friday’s game against the Cubs.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.