Bullpen Report: June 4, 2023

The 2023 version of the 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

•Kenley Jansen, BOS: 43 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Chris Martin and Josh Winckowski should both be available on Sunday.

•Michael King, NYY: 33 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

King threw in the seventh and eighth inning and Clay Holmes recorded the save in the ninth. Holmes should be available for a second day in a row if needed but Wandy Peralta only threw nine pitches on Saturday and is also likely available.

•Jalen Beeks, TBR: 37 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

There was a lot of reliever usage for the Rays in Saturday’s doubleheader with the Red Sox, but Jason Adam (14 pitches on Saturday) and Kevin Kelly (4 pitches on Saturday) are likely to still be available on Sunday.

•Kendall Graveman, CHW: 6 pitches on Saturday, back-t0-back days. | RosterResource

Reynaldo López and Keynan Middleton join Graveman on the “High Usage Alert” list, making Joe Kelly, Liam Hendriks, and Aaron Bummer the likely relievers to appear on Sunday.

•David Robertson, NYM: 28 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Adam Ottavino and setup man Brooks Raley 레일리 should both be available on Sunday.

•Devin Williams, MIL: 26 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Peter Strzelecki and “Reliever on the Rise” Joel Payamps should both be available on Sunday.

•David Bednar, PIT: 14 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

The young prospect starter Luis L. Ortiz only lasted two innings on Sunday and that forced a lot of usage in the Pirates pen as seven relievers were used. The only pitchers without the “High Usage Alert” tag are Jose Hernandez, Yerry De Los Santos, and Rob Zastryzny, but it doesn’t seem too crazy to assume Bednar would go for a third day in a row if there is a save opportunity.

•Justin Lawrence, COL: 15 pitches on Saturday, three days in a row. | RosterResource

Pierce Johnson hasn’t thrown since Thursday and is likely to fill in for a save opportunity should one come up.

Injury News

•Aroldis Chapman, Knee | RosterResource

Hopefully, Chapman just needed a day off and will be available on Sunday, but it’s something to keep an eye on. While he is still the setup man in Kansas City behind closer Scott Barlow, Chapman has two saves and six holds on the season. His velocity has ticked down slightly in recent appearances and perhaps his knee was the reason for that.

Matt Quatraro said that Carlos Hernández exited the eighth inning after a callus broke open on his thumb. He's considered day-to-day.

Quatraro said Aroldis Chapman was given an extra day off because "his knee has been barking," so he wasn't available in the eighth.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) June 3, 2023

Outlier Saves

•Erik Swanson, TOR | RosterResource

After back-to-back appearances from closer Jordan Romano, it’s likely that Romano was given rest on Saturday. Though it was a one-run game after the Jays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth, Swanson was the man on the mound in the bottom of the frame. “Reliever on the Rise” Nate Pearson threw a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts and Kaitlyn McGrath of the Athletic wrote a great piece detailing Pearson’s recent success. But, Swanson has been solid all year with a sub-3.00 ERA and an 11.06 K/9. Though walks have been somewhat of an issue (4.23 BB/9), he’s mostly escaped damage and has recorded 13 holds for the Jays. Saturday’s save was his first of the season.

•George Soriano, MIA | RosterResource

In his fourth big-league appearance, Soriano was asked to soak up some innings in a blowout game. He gave up one earned run, four hits, walked two, and struck out three over three innings. He was awarded the save by MLB’s rule where a reliever maintains the lead and throws at least three innings. Soriano projects mostly as bullpen depth for the Marlins.

Committee Clarity

•None