Bullpen Report: May 21, 2021

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.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Kenley Jansen, LAD: Back-to-back days; 17 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Blake Treinen is a likely candidate for a save chance on Friday if Jansen isn’t available.

•Richard Rodríguez, PIT: 27 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

David Bednar and Chris Stratton are likely candidates for a save chance on Friday if Rodriguez isn’t available.

•Rafael Dolis, TOR: 29 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Jordan Romano and Tyler Chatwood are likely candidates for a save chance on Friday if Dolis isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Hansel Robles, MIN | RosterResource

After Robles picked up the Twins’ last save on Saturday, it had become apparent that Taylor Rogers was no longer the primary closer and Alex Colomé had an opportunity to jump back into the mix for save chances. But while Colome continues to bounce back from a terrible start to the season, not having allowed a run over his last 7.2 innings, it’s Robles who appears to be in position to separate himself as the closer.

The 30-year-old, who lost his job as the Angels’ closer early in the 2020 season, picked up his second save of the season on Thursday with a 1-2-3 inning to close out a 6-3 win over the Angels. He ended the game with a 97-MPH fastball on the paint.

Hansel Robles, Game-Ending Messing with Timing/97mph FB.

No, the video is not stuck. 😂 pic.twitter.com/B6vyPkazkj

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 21, 2021

 

Over his last 10.2 innings, Robles has allowed just one run and has struck out 12 batters. He has walked seven over that span, but only one over his last four appearances. Even though he is currently in the driver’s seat, a committee is still a strong possibility with Colome pitching well and Rogers always a reliable option.

Losing A Grip

•Rafael Dolis, TOR | RosterResource

Dolis couldn’t hold a 7-5 lead over the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing three runs and four hits in the ninth. It was his first blown save and first loss of 2021, which wouldn’t normally put him in jeopardy of losing the closer’s job on its own. But his hold on that job has never been too tight. And with multiple late-inning alternatives in Romano and Chatwood, who each threw scoreless innings to hand over the lead to Dolis on Thursday, the Jays seem likely to at least consider a committee.

While the closer’s job has been presumed to be Romano’s once he returned to his dominant form of 2020 (14.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 BB, 21 K), he hasn’t quite gotten there. He’s only allowed four runs in 13.2 innings, but has eight walks and 16 strikeouts. It’s probably enough to give him a decent shot at eventually taking hold of the job, but Chatwood might be the team’s best reliever right now and could be an under-the-radar candidate for save chances. The 31-year-old has allowed just one run in 16 innings with four walks, 23 strikeouts, and nine holds.

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.