Bullpen Report: May 18, 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.

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: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 18 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman is a likely candidate for a save chance if Hendriks isn’t available on Wednesday.

•Alexis Díaz, CIN: 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Jeff Hoffman is a likely candidate for a save chance if Díaz isn’t available on Wednesday.

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD: Back-to-back days; 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Daniel Hudson is a likely candidate for a save chance if Kimbrel isn’t available on Wednesday.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Seth Lugo and Drew Smith are likely candidates for a save chance if Díaz isn’t available on Wednesday.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 18 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Clay Holmes is a likely candidate for a save chance if Chapman isn’t available on Wednesday.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: Back-to-back days; 24 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Setup men Tyler Rogers, John Brebbia, and Dominic Leone have also pitched back-to-back days, but all three are more likely than Doval to be available for a third consecutive day.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: 22 pitches on Tuesday; Ryan Helsley, STL: 29 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Gallegos will likely be available on Wednesday. If not, Génesis Cabrera is a likely candidate for a save chance.

 

Injury News

•Jordan Romano, TOR: Day-to-day (non-COVID illness). | RosterResource

Romano has been unavailable for the past two games due to a non-COVID illness. He is considered day-to-day. The Blue Jays are also without their top lefty reliever, Tim Mayza, who was placed on the 15-Day Injured List on Monday with forearm inflammation.

Charlie Montoyo says Jordan Romano remains day-to-day with a non-COVID illness.

Tim Mayza (left forearm inflammation) is getting another opinion. Montoyo said club doesn’t think it’s serious.

Nate Pearson hit 96 in a side, on track to pitch in extended spring game this week.

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) May 17, 2022

In the meantime, the Blue Jays have made it clear who they trust the most to close out wins in Romano’s absence. That would be Adam Cimber, who picked up a save in Monday’s win and another on Tuesday to finish off a 3-0 shutout win over the Mariners. The 31-year-old now has three saves and four holds to go along with a 2.20 ERA in 16.1 innings of work.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Alexis Díaz and Art Warren, CIN | RosterResource

After allowing six earned runs over a thee-outing span, the 29-year-old Warren came into Tuesday with a streak of four consecutive scoreless outings that hinted at a return to his excellent 2021 form (1.29 ERA, 21 IP, 11 H, 8 BB, 34 K). Thus, it was no surprise that he got the Reds’ first save chance since Lucas Sims went on the Injured List last week. Unfortunately, his struggles returned as he couldn’t hold a 4-2 lead over the Guardians in the ninth inning. He allowed a game-tying, two-run homer Owen Miller for the blown save.

Logically, the next save chance would go to rookie Alexis Díaz, who has been the team’s best reliever in 2022. And guess what? That save chance would come the very next inning after the Reds took a 5-4 lead in the top of the tenth. The 25-year-old looked the part in more ways than one, striking out the first two hitters, walking the next two to load the bases, and then closing things out by striking out superstar José Ramírez for his first career save.

Was it impressive enough for Díaz to become the Reds’ primary closer? I think so. There will be a lot of pressure on the younger brother of Edwin, who picked up his 182nd career save on Tuesday, but he has earned it by allowing only one earned run over his first 17.1 big league innings.

•Josh Staumont, KCR | RosterResource

Scott Barlow didnt pick up his first save of the season until April 20, the day after Staumont saved his second game in four days. Heading into Tuesday’s game, Staumont remained stuck at two while Barlow picked up his second, third, and fourth saves in a recent eight-day span.

While that’s a strong indication that Barlow is the primary closer, the Royals had only won seven of their last 23 games so it would be difficult to work multiple pitchers into the closer’s mix. And that still might be the case, although the 28-year-old Staumont was called on to close out a 2-1 win of the nightcap of Tuesday’s double-header. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his 3rd save while Barlow was likely unavailable after pitching back-to-back days and three of the past four. We’ll have to wait and see if this evens the save chances out a bit, but the Royals will have to start winning more often.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.