Bullpen Report: May 16, 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.

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.)

Notable Workloads

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 22 pitches on Saturday, 2 of last 3 days. | RosterResource

Both  Tyler Chatwood (24 pitches) and A.J. Cole (23 pitches) were used last night. There’s a long list of injuries in the Jays’ pen currently, so it’s likely a matter of which pitcher is least tired on Sunday if a save opportunity should arise.

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 3 of last 4 days. | RosterResource

Hendricks had the night off on Saturday without a save opportunity presenting itself in Chicago and may just be available. Aaron Bummer is a likely candidate for a save chance if Hendriks needs another day’s rest on Sunday.

•Josh Staumont, KCR: 22 pitches on Saturday, 3 of last 4 days. | RosterResource

Scott Barlow also threw 31 pitches on Saturday night, earning the hold. Greg Holland is a likely candidate for a save chance if Staumont and Barlow are unavailable.

•Will Smith, ATL: 10 pitches on Saturday, 3 days in a row. | RosterResource

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

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC: 13 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Andrew Chafin is a likely candidate for a save chance if Kimbrel needs a rest on Sunday.

•Tejay Antone, CIN: 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

If there’s one pitcher who has shown signs of closer material in the Cincinnati Closer-Committee, it would be Antone and he is currently listed as a “Reliever On The Rise” on the Closer Depth Chart. Lucas Sims (31 pitches) and Heath Hembree (6 pitches, 3 of last 4 days) may also need some rest, leaving Sean Doolittle as the most rested heading into Sunday.

•Richard Rodríguez, PIT: 23 pitches on Saturday, 2 of last 3 days. | RosterResource

David Bednar is a likely candidate for a save opportunity if Rodríguez is unavailable Sunday.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 20 pitches on Saturday, 3 of last 4 days. | RosterResource

Mychal Givens and Robert Stephenson are likely candidates for save opportunities if Bard is unavailable Sunday.

•Jake McGee, SFG: 10 pitches on Saturday, 2 of last 3 days. | RosterResource

Tyler Rogers is likely a candidate for a save opportunity if McGee is unavailable Sunday.

 

Injury News

•Chris Devenski, ARI: Placed on 60-Day IL (sprained right ulnar collateral ligament).  | RosterResource

While there has been no announcement of treatment or surgery yet, it seems like this could be a season-ender for Devenski. The Diamondbacks bullpen has accumulated just 1.5 WAR (MLB’s 3rd worst) this season and now there is one less candidate to be “next in line” to Crichton for save opportunities.

It never stops. https://t.co/HjPv0PJj3Q

— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) May 16, 2021

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•Hansel Robles, MIN | RosterResource

Robles began warming in the pen in the bottom of the eighth with the Twins down by two. The Athletics brought in Jake Diekman to get the final out in the frame with two runners on and he was greeted by Miguel Sanó, who promptly crushed a three-run homer to take the lead. Robles was then thrust into a close situation. Robles gave up a one-out double to Chad Pinder, but eventually struck out Jed Lowrie and got the final out on a Sean Murphy groundout. Taylor Rogers hasn’t really cemented himself into the closer role and Alex Colomé has shown signs of a rebound going scoreless in his last six innings. It’s looking like a committee is developing in Minnesota.

•Heath Hembree, CIN | RosterResource

Going 12 innings against Colorado on Saturday night continued to show how the Reds are relying on a large committee to close out games. Lucas Sims tried to close the door in the bottom of the 11th but gave up 2 runs (1 earned), and the game carried on into the 12th. Hembree also allowed the extra-innings rule runner to score but was able to finish off the game, earning his first save of the season. There are now five members of the Cincinnati pen with saves recorded.

Losing a Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.