Bullpen Report: May 19, 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.

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

•Taylor Rogers, MIN: 27 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Hansel Robles and Alex Colomé are the likeliest stand-ins if Rogers is unavailable Wednesday.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 28 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Mychal Givens is the safest bet to fill in at closer if Bard needs a day off.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: Three straight days; 12 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Díaz only threw nine pitches on Monday after 18 on Sunday, so it’s not completely inconceivable that he’d be available Wednesday. It’s nonetheless unlikely, which makes Miguel Castro and Aaron Loup the top closing options. Trevor May has worked back-to-back days (36 pitches total), as has Jeurys Familia (29 pitches total), so they might be down or limited as well.

Injury News

•Rafael Dolis, TOR: Activated from the 10-day IL (strained calf) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Dolis needed just the minimum ten days to recover from what was a very mild calf strain, and may eventually resume his place as the Jays’ top closing option. But even if so, he won’t necessarily be the guy in the ninth with Tyler Chatwood dominating all season and Jordan Romano finding his footing as of late.

Dolis pitched Tuesday with an eight-run lead in the ninth and (as has often been the case with him this year) needed 22 pitches to close the door, though he struck out three batters and ultimately didn’t give up a run. The Jays could ease him back in to higher-leverage spots and lean on Chatwood and Romano for the time being.

•Archie Bradley, PHI: Activated from the 10-day IL (strained oblique) on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Oblique strains can be notoriously bothersome, although fortunately for Bradley his wasn’t too bad, missing about five weeks of action. Hector Neris is still undoubtedly the Phillies closer, but Bradley will return to a strong late-inning core that also includes José Alvarado and Sam Coonrod. Connor Brogdon has had a couple of blow-up outings but has been largely solid and had worked his way into the end-game mix as well.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

Committee Clarity

•James Karinchak, CLE | RosterResource

Emmanuel Clase had been Cleveland’s closer, and ought to have been available on Tuesday even after throwing 26 pitches on Sunday, but it was Karinchak who got the ninth inning assignment, pitching a perfect inning for his fourth save of the year, to Clase’s seven. Clase may well still be the closer, but he’s been shaky lately, walking six of 15 batters faced in his last three outings. Terry Francona might be going with Karinchak for now or mixing-and-matching. Bryan Shaw could also be a factor.

•Jake McGee, SFG | RosterResource

After blowing a save on Friday and taking the loss on Saturday, McGee took a seat and watched as Tyler Rogers pitched the ninth on Sunday and Monday, earning saves both days. But McGee was back out there to shut the door on Tuesday, making quick work of the Reds, needing just nine pitches to notch his 11th save of the year.

It’s worth noting that it wasn’t Rogers but Zack Littell who pitched the eighth on Tuesday, so Rogers simply may not have been available. Rogers has had the better year from a run-prevention perspective but McGee’s peripherals are strong, and he’s leading the duo in saves, ten to five. Gabe Kapler will probably continue to mix-and-match, working in rest for both of his top arms.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.