Bullpen Report: June 4, 2021

The 2021 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

•Tejay Antone, CIN: 32 pitches on Thursday. Lucas Sims, CIN: 31 pitches on Thursday | RosterResource

Sean Doolittle is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday if neither Antone nor Sims is available.

•Josh Hader, MIL: 23 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Devin Williams and Brent Suter also had high pitch counts on Thursday. Brad Boxberger is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday if Hader isn’t available.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•Lucas Sims, CIN | RosterResource

Save chances have been few and far between for the Reds, so it’s been difficult to pick up on any trends. Antone, who has been their most reliable reliever, has averaged 1 2/3 innings per appearance but the Reds don’t always wait until the last five outs of the game to use him. On Thursday, he pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning with his team leading the Cardinals by a run. Sims followed with two scoreless innings to close out a 4-2 win and pick up his team-leading fourth save.

Over his last nine appearances, the 27-year-old Sims has allowed four earned runs, six hits, and six walks while striking out 14 batters in 11 innings. It’s not nearly as good as Antone’s numbers, but it’s clear that he’s one of two relievers that the Reds are leaning on when they’re ahead late in the game. Doolittle has also been terrific over the past month, allowing just three earned runs over his last 11 innings with 16 strikeouts. But the veteran lefty’s high-leverage innings have been limited, possibly because he’s struggled against right-handed batters.

•Scott Barlow, KCR | RosterResource

Barlow’s second save of the season was much like his first, two scoreless innings to close out a Royals’ victory. It’s been a month-and-a-half between those saves, mostly because the team had been using Josh Staumont almost exclusively as the closer from late April until he landed on the Injured List last week.

With Staumont out of action, Greg Holland picked up a save on Sunday and now Barlow, who has nine holds and a 1.86 ERA, got one in Thursday’s 6-5 win over the Twins. That duo will continue to be the team’s top candidates for save chances, although I wouldn’t rule out Kyle Zimmer or Jake Brentz.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.