Bullpen Report: May 1, 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.

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

• Jorge López, BAL: 18 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

The Orioles utilized five different relievers to keep the Red Sox from scoring and the game locked at one run apiece. Four of those five threw less than an inning. Jorge López, on the other hand, threw two innings, struck out one, and walked one while earning the win. If he needs rest on Sunday, look for Dillon Tate or Joey Krehbiel to fill in for the closer.

• Liam Hendriks, CHW: 20 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman was used in the eighth inning (22 pitches) and Hendriks in the ninth. It was the closer’s first appearance since back tightness issues forced him to take a few days of rest. He did not record a save because it was a non-save situation since the White Sox were up by four. Hendriks rarely needs rest, but if there’s still an issue with the back, he may need to start spacing out his appearances a little more. If Hendriks does take a rest on Sunday, look for Aaron Bummer or José Ruiz to get a chance to close out the game if the Sox have a lead.

• Emmanuel Clase, CLE: 15 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Look for “Reliever on the Rise” Trevor Stephan or Anthony Gose to fill in for Clase on Sunday if he needs rest and the Guardians are in a save situation.

• Anthony Bender, MIA: 19 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Bender has converted all of his last four save opportunities and the one night he had off since Monday, Cole Sulser got the save. Jason Martinez wrote about the Miami pen in Friday’s Bullpen Report and how Sulser appears to be earning more and more confidence in high-leverage situations. If Bender needs rest on Sunday, Cole Sulser is the most likely to fill.

•Corey Knebel, PHI: 28 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Knebel came into the bottom of the eighth inning on Saturday after Jeurys Familia got two outs, but walked two batters. With runners on first and second, Knebel came in and walked the first batter he faced J.D. Davis, loading the bases. He escaped disaster by getting the final out on a Brandon Nimmo groundout and came back out for the ninth and recorded the save. It’s likely that he will need a day off after Saturday’s appearance and Brad Hand is the most likely to fill in if that’s the case.

•Ian Kennedy, ARI: 27 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

With closer Mark Melancon on the COVID-IL, Kennedy appears to be the closer fill-in with Noé Ramirez the first up and Joe Mantiply the second up. Ramirez has thrown back-to-back days and may also be in need of rest. Look for Mantiply to get a save opportunity (he has one on the season already) if Kennedy and Ramirez are unavailable.

 

Injury News

•Lou Trivino, OAK: COVID-IL | Roster Resource

Trivino’s last appearance for the Athletics was April 16th and since then, Danny Jiminez has filled in and established himself as the clear next in line for the role. It’s likely that Trivino will be re-instated as the closer upon return, but Jiminez may still see opportunities to close out games in the early going.

Lou Trivino will make a rehab outing for Low-A Stockton tomorrow, Mark Kotsay said. A’s will see how he recovers then decide a next step.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) April 30, 2022

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•Chris Stratton, PIT | Roster Resource

Will Crowe threw a clean seventh inning to keep the game tied against the Padres, 3-3, on Saturday night. Crowe came back out for the eighth, got one out, and then walked Jake Cronenworth. David Bednar came in with a runner on first and gave up a two-run blast to Manny Machado, giving the Padres a 5-3 lead. The Pirates came roaring back in the bottom of the eighth and re-tied the game, 5-5. It was then Stratton who got three quick outs in the top of the ninth but then gave up a run to the zombie runner in the top of the tenth. More wildness ensued as the Pirates were able to bring in their own zombie runner and then scored the winning run on an Eric Hosmer error. I believe the clarity this situation brought is that the Pirates are still waiting on one of their late-inning arms to step up in high leverage situations and that a committee remains in Pittsburgh.

Losing a Grip

•None