Bullpen Report: May 14, 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

•Josh Staumont, KCR: 32 pitches on Friday; 14 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Scott Barlow threw only 13 pitches Friday and should be good to go on Saturday.

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD: 24 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Daniel Hudson, Brusdar Graterol, and Alex Vesia have all pitched a lot lately, so if they’re not available Saturday, a save opportunity could fall to Tommy Kahnle. Odds are at least one of the top three setup men will be usable, though.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Will Vest, DET | RosterResource

Gregory Soto, to put it nicely, simply didn’t have it on Friday. He hit the first two batters he faced, struck out the next, but then walked the batter after that to load the bases. After the Orioles swapped out lefty Rougned Odor for righty Ramón Urías, AJ Hinch decided he’d seen enough. The righty Vest entered to clean up the mess, and all he did was strike out both batters faced on just eight pitches for his first big league save.

Vest, who struggled as the Mariners’ Rule 5 pick last year before being returned to the Tigers, has been brilliant in his second shot at MLB, this time with his original club. In 15.1 innings he’s allowed just four hits and three walks, striking out 20. Despite Soto’s implosion Friday, Hinch was sure to assert that he’s still his closer and would be back out there on Saturday for a save opportunity.

Jason Adam, TBR | RosterResource

The Rays saw 14 different pitchers earn a save last year, but by their standards this season has been pretty under control from a closing standpoint, with only three pitchers (Andrew Kittredge, Brooks Raley 레일리, and Ryan Thompson) closing out close games prior to Friday. Adam became the fourth Ray to earn a save this season after the three aforementioned “closers” already pitched, pitching a 1-2-3 inning for the first save of his career.

Adam was signed to a $900K split contract after the lockout ended, ostensibly to provide depth more than anything else, but has stepped up as a key member of Kevin Cash’s bullpen. The righty has 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings, with walks no longer much of an issue for him, as he’s allowed just four free passes.

Francisco Morales, PHI | RosterResource

Another day, another hectic game for the Phillies! Closer Corey Knebel wasn’t available. Brad Hand had already been used. Jeurys Familia blew his save chance in the ninth by giving up a two-run homer to Justin Turner. Enter Morales in his second big league appearance in the tenth with a two-run lead but the zombie runner on second base.

Morales didn’t make things easy for himself by walking Gavin Lux… and then walking Austin Barnes. Despite that, he got Mookie Betts to ground into a double play, bringing home a run but maintaining the lead. All Morales had to do was get through Freddie Freeman… who he walked. But he had one more ground ball in him, inducing a Trea Turner force out to end the game. Despite throwing just 10 of his 24 pitches for strikes, Morales held on for a very memorable first MLB save.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None