Bullpen Report: May 15, 2021

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.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Will Smith, ATL: Back-to-back days; 11 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Chris Martin and A.J. Minter are likely candidates for a save chance if Smith isn’t available on Saturday.

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 3 consecutive days; 13 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Aaron Bummer is a likely candidate for a save chance if Hendriks isn’t available on Saturday.

 

Injury News

•Diego Castillo, TBR: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

Back after a 10-day absence due to a strained groin, Castillo should be back in the role that put him in a position to pick up seven of the team’s first ten saves on the season. How often manager Kevin Cash goes to a reliever other than Castillo in a save situation, however, is always at least somewhat undetermined. Andrew Kittredge and Jeffrey Springs each have two saves and Pete Fairbanks, who was the closer during the 2020 postseason, is always an option.

 

Outlier Saves

•Jonathan Loaisiga, NYY | RosterResource

Aroldis Chapman was given a second consecutive day off after pitching four of five days, leaving Loaisiga to close out a 5-4 win over the Orioles with a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save.

In 17 appearances, the 26-year-old Loaisiga has had only one bad outing. Along with the two saves, he has four holds, and three wins as he’s risen to the “next in line” spot after Chapman in one of the best bullpens in baseball.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.