Bullpen Report: June 6, 2021

NEW FEATURE ALERT! We have added an upgraded version of RosterResource’s Closer Depth Chart to FanGraphs. Read more about it here.

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.

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.)

Notable Workloads

•Matt Barnes, BOS: 5 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

It seemed as though Barnes was going to get a night off on Saturday, but needed to come in to close things out after Brandon Workman walked two in the bottom of the ninth. Barnes only needed five pitches to record a strikeout and a save due to the tying run standing in the on-deck circle. Adam Ottavino and “Reliever on the Rise” Darwinzon Hernandez are likely candidates for a save opportunity on Sunday if Barnes is unavailable.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 21 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Trevor May and Miguel Castro are likely candidates for save opportunities if Díaz is unavailable.

•José Alvarado, PHI: 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

With Héctor Neris on the paternity list, Sam Conrood could be in line for a save opportunity if one presents itself on Sunday.

•Richard Rodríguez, PIT: 27 pitches on Saturday, 2 of last 3 days. | RosterResource

There was a lot of bullpen usage with the Pirates on Saturday, leaving David Bednar as the least taxed arm (19 pitches on Saturday) and Kyle Crick as the second least taxed arm (24 pitches on Saturday) likely for save opportunities on Sunday.

•Tyler Rogers, SFG: 22 pitches on Saturday, 2 days in a row. | RosterResource

Both Rogers and his co-closer Jake McGee (13 pitches on Saturday, 2 days in a row) are on “High Usage Alert”. Setup Man Zack Littell could be in line for a save opportunity on Sunday if both Rogers and McGee need a rest.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Connor Brogdon, PHI  | RosterResource

With Héctor Neris out on the paternity list and Spencer Howard starting the game, the Phillies went to the bullpen early as Howard was taken out after recording one out in the third. Ranger Suárez ate up three scoreless innings to earn the win. Archie Bradley, Sam Coonrod, and Jose Alvarado each earned a hold before handing it off to Brogdon, who threw a scoreless ninth and struck out two. It was Brogdon’s first career MLB save. It’s unclear from Joe Girardi’s post-game interview why it ended up being Brogdon taking the mound in the ninth over Alvarado or Coonrod, but it seems like he was playing the matchups and bringing in relievers based on the situation. It seems likely that this will continue and that Brogdon, Alvarado, and Coonrod will share save opportunities while Neris is out.

Committee Clarity

•José Cisnero, DET  | RosterResource

After being tagged with the loss in Friday night’s contest, and based on A.J. Hinch’s postgame interview, it seems as though Cisnero was given a chance to rebound on Saturday night. Michael Fulmer was reportedly unavailable:

A.J. Hinch said he was told just before the game that Michael Fulmer was unavailable again.

"We're going to have to consider making a move there," Hinch said. "It's been a long time and the fatigue is not resolved."

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) June 5, 2021

Fulmer and Gregory Soto have been in a committee share, but it will be interesting to see what move is made in Detroit. Gregory Soto has five saves on the year and worked a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts on Saturday. But, Hinch clearly has confidence in Cisnero and he could be in line for more opportunities should Fulmer land on the IL.

Losing a Grip

•None

Click HERE