Bullpen Report: May 15, 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

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 26 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

A walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly caused the game to go from a 2-1 White-Sox lead to a 2-2 tie against the Yankees in the top of the ninth on Sunday. The lost lead marked another blown save for Hendriks, his third of the year. However, a bottom-of-the-ninth Luis Robert walk-off single gave Hendriks the win. So far this season, Hendriks has not thrown the night after blowing a save, but that probably doesn’t mean much for Sunday’s re-match against the Yankees. If he is unavailable, Kendall Graveman is the first up to fill in.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 21 pitches on Sunday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Michael Fulmer is the most likely reliever to handle a save situation should Soto be unavailable.

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 12 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Co-closer Emilio Pagán also threw on Saturday (9 pitches) and is likely in need of rest after throwing 22 pitches on Friday. Should both relievers be unavailable on Sunday, Tyler Duffey is the most likely to be used in a save situation.

•Raisel Iglesias, LAA: 23 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

After a double-header in Oakland on Saturday, the Angels bullpen is taxed. All three relievers in Iglesias, Ryan Tepera, and Aaron Loup are on “High Usage Alert” and all three have been used in back-to-back days. In addition, both Iglesias and Loup recorded blown saves on Saturday. Manager Joe Maddon may need to get creative on Sunday, or at least hope starter Patrick Sandoval can go deep into the game.

•Tanner Rainey, WSN: 24 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Kyle Finnegan is the next man up in the Nationals pen and the most likely to handle a save situation on Sunday, should one come up.

•Rowan Wick, CHC: 28 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Either Mychal Givens (11 pitches on Saturday) or Chris Martin are likely candidates to fill in for Wick if he is unavailable on Sunday.

•Mark Melancon, ARI: 15 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

You can read more about Melancon in the “Losing a Grip” section. Ian Kennedy is likely to fill in for Melancon on Sunday in a save situation.

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing a Grip

•Mark Melancon, ARI

Since returning from the Covid-IL on May 6th, Melancon’s game logs tell a story of a rollercoaster ride where fantasy managers rostering Melancon are gripping the handlebars for dear life. Upon his return, Melancon has either given up zero runs and recorded the save, or at least three runs and recorded a loss. On the days when Melancon disappoints, he is giving up 90% or higher Z-Contact. On those same days, his SwStr% has been low and his Hard%/Med% hit rates have been up. While it doesn’t appear that he is putting the ball in the zone more often than usual, it is getting hit more often. It’s hard to tell the root cause of Melancon’s troubles, but what isn’t hard to tell is that Ian Kennedy performed well while Melancon was out. He recorded three saves and gave up no runs as a fill-in. He could be getting more opportunities in the future if Melancon’s struggles continue.