Bullpen Report: May 1, 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

•Cesar Valdez, BAL: Back-to-back days; 24 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Tanner Scott, Adam Plutko, and Cole Sulser are likely candidates for a save chance if Valdez isn’t available on Saturday.

•Josh Hader, MIL: Back-to-back days; 12 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Devin Williams is a likely candidate for a save chance if Hader isn’t available on Saturday.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Sam Coonrod, PHI| RosterResource

With Héctor Neris likely unavailable after pitching back-to-back days and three of the last four, the candidates for a potential save chance on Friday were José Alvarado, Brandon Kintzler, and Coonrod. The Phillies would need all three to hold off the Mets in a 2-1 victory with Kintzler and Alvarado pitching scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, respectively, and the 28-year-old Coonrod closing out the win for his first save.

On the roster bubble in Spring Training after being acquired from the Giants this past offseason, Coonrod has quickly worked his way into the late-inning mix and might have surpassed Kintzler and Connor Brogdon as the primary right-handed setup man.

 

Committee Clarity

•Tejay Antone, CIN | RosterResource

Leading by four runs versus the Cubs in the ninth, Carson Fulmer allowed the first two batters to reach base. With the tying run on deck, it was now a save situation for Lucas Sims, who entered to face the heart of the Cubs’ batting order. He walked Kris Bryant to load the bases, but got Anthony Rizzo on a flyout for the first out before Javier Báez hit a sacrifice fly for the second out. Sims walked the next two batters, though, forcing in a run to make it 8-6.

To the rescue was Antone, who has been the savior of the Reds’ bullpen in 2021. While he had recorded at least four outs in five of his seven appearances thus far, he only had to throw three pitches to record one out on Friday and pick up his first MLB save. I’m guessing there will be plenty more.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.