Bullpen Report: May 20, 2023

The 2023 version of the 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

•Félix Bautista, BAL: 25 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Yennier Cano or Bryan Baker would probably close on Saturday if Bautista is unavailable.

•David Robertson, NYM: Three straight days. | RosterResource

Adam Ottavino has pitched three-of-four, so he might not be available, though he didn’t pitch Thursday. Drew Smith or Brooks Riley could end up closing Saturday

Injury News

•Zach Jackson, OAK: Placed on the 15-day IL (strained flexor) on Friday. | RosterResource

The funky-throwing Jackson was really the one particularly intriguing healthy reliever the A’s had left, with a 2.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings, albeit with ten walks and five wild pitches. He’ll almost surely be out for more than the fifteen day minimum, and flexor strains are often a multi-month injury that sometimes even precede Tommy John surgery, though that’s not to say Jackson’s injury is that serious.

With Jackson out, it’s anyone’s guess who the A’s closer will be for the few games they actually have save chances. Richard Lovelady has pitched the best of the relievers currently in the bullpen, with Garrett Acton looking solid in his first couple of MLB appearances.

Outlier Saves

•Josh Winckowski, BOS | RosterResource

Winckowski tag-teamed with James Paxton, who went six solid innings against the Padres on Friday night. He entered with a five-run lead in the seventh inning and took it to the house, facing the minimum over his three innings of work. Winckowski struggled as a starter last year but has found his footing as a multi-inning reliever, with a 2.15 ERA in 29.1 innings across 17 appearances.

•Tyler Rogers, SFG | RosterResource

Camilo Doval pitched Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so Gabe Kapler elected to give him an extra day off after Thursday’s off-day, with Rogers filling in. It was actually a four-out save for the side-winding righty, who relieved his brother to get the last out of the eighth before pitching a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season. He’s been Doval’s most reliable setup man this year, with Friday’s outing lowering his ERA to 2.31.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None