Bullpen Report: May 12, 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.

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

•César Valdez, BAL: 23 pitches on Tuesday, 10 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Tanner Scott, Paul Fry, Adam Plutko and Cole Sulser are all possibilities if Valdez needs a day off.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

The Jays will probably have to go elsewhere in their closer committee if a save opportunity arises on Wednesday, with Tyler Chatwood and Ryan Borucki the top options.

•Héctor Neris, PHI: 30 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

José Alvarado and Sam Coonrod are the best bets to substitute with Neris almost assuredly unavailable Wednesday.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 28 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos (27 pitches on Tuesday) may not be available either, so Ryan Helsley could get a shot.

•Jake McGee, SFG: 15 pitches on Tuesday, 14 pitches on Monday. | RosterResource

Trevor Rogers is the top option to fill in if McGee is down on Wednesday.

Injury News

•Kyle Crick, PIT: Placed on the 10-day IL (strained triceps).

There’s no timetable for Crick’s return, who had worked his way up to a role as Richard Rodríguez’s top setup man, with an excellent 1.59 ERA backed up by a 2.98 xERA. While Crick is out, Chris Stratton, David Bednar and Sam Howard should handle most of the setup duties.

Outlier Saves

•Drew Rasmussen, MIL | RosterResource

Josh Hader pitched the bottom of the ninth in a tie game, and after the Brewers took the lead in the top of the tenth, Rasmussen was brought on to pitch. He was able to work around the extra-inning runner for his first career save. Rasmussen struggled to start his season but has allowed just one earned run in his last 11.1 innings, with 15 strikeouts.

•Ryan Helsley, STL | RosterResource

Closer Alex Reyes threw 30 pitches on Saturday and top backup Giovanny Gallegos threw 28, so it was Helsley summoned with one out and two runners on in the ninth inning. Helsley walked the first batter he faced but induced a game-ending double play for his first 2021 save and the second of his career.

 

Committee Clarity

•Jake Diekman, OAK | RosterResource

Diekman got the save chance over Lou Trivino on Tuesday, battling his command in throwing just ten of 21 pitches for strikes, but ultimately keeping the Red Sox off the board for his fourth save of the season. It’s been a pretty even split so far, with Trivino picking up six saves to Diekman’s four.

•Jordan Romano, TOR | RosterResource

Romano was given the first save opportunity in the post-Rafael Dolis era (he’s currently on the IL with a strained calf). He bent but didn’t break, walking a batter and delivering 29 pitches, but ultimately holding the two-run Blue Jays lead to earn his first save of the season. Romano looks like the top option, but Tyler Chatwood and Ryan Borucki ought to factor in as well.

•Jake McGee, SFG | RosterResource

McGee picked up another save on Tuesday, his tenth of the season. Manager Gabe Kapler said that Tyler Rogers might be in the mix for more ninth inning work, but that really hasn’t come to fruition of yet, with McGee righting the ship after a few tough outings. Rogers remains McGee’s top backup and has picked up a couple of saves on days McGee was unavailable.

Losing A Grip

•Rafael Montero, SEA | RosterResource

Montero entered with two outs in the seventh inning and a one-run lead, striking out Justin Turner to keep the Mariners ahead. But he imploded in the eighth inning, surrendering a three-run home run to Gavin Lux. The plan was presumably to get Montero through the eighth before bringing in Kendall Graveman to close things out, but the bottom of the ninth never came thanks to the Dodgers’ comeback.

The saves breakdown in Seattle has been equitable, with Montero and Graveman saving four games each. But Graveman has pitched far better, not yet allowing an earned run. Montero has now allowed 12 runs (ten earned) in 16.1 innings, even with a low BABIP (.261). His strikeout rate has cratered, down to 20%, the lowest of his career.

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.