Bullpen Report: May 21, 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: 31 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Yennier Cano has appeared in three of Baltimore’s last four games and is likely in need of rest along with Bautista. Bryan Baker or Cionel Pérez are likely to appear in a save situation in Cano and Bautista’s stead.

•Michael King, NYY: 33 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

The wide-ranging closer committee in New York will likely call upon Clay Holmes (16 pitches on Saturday) or Wandy Peralta if King needs rest on Sunday.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 32 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Setup man Erik Swanson is also on “High Usage Alert” after throwing 16 pitches on Saturday, making Yimi García (14 pitches on Saturday) the most rested candidate. Yet, Romano may need a chance at redemption if it is there.

•Kendall Graveman, CHW: 9 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Reynaldo López (11 pitches on Saturday) or Joe Kelly (11 pitches on Saturday) could appear in a save situation should Graveman be unavailable.

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 20 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Setup man Jorge López also threw 19 pitches on Saturday making Brock Stewart a likely candidate for a fill-in save on Sunday.

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: 10 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Bryan Abreu did not throw on Saturday and should be available for a save opportunity if one comes up.

•Dylan Floro, MIA: 20 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Both Tanner Scott and Huascar Brazoban should be available on Sunday.

•David Bednar, MIA: 22 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Colin Holderman is the likeliest to appear in a save situation if Bednar needs rest.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 26 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos recorded the save on top of Helsley’s win on Saturday night against the Dodgers. Helsley threw in a tied eighth inning facing the top of the order and lasted three batters into the ninth. He gave up a double, a single, and then an RBI double and was quickly replaced by Gallegos who was able to put the Dodgers away. If both relievers are unavailable on Sunday, Andre Pallante or Génesis Cabrera could appear in a save situation.

•Camilo Doval, SFG: 23 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Setup man Tyler Rogers is also on “High Usage Alert” after throwing 15 pitches and back-to-back days. That makes either John Brebbia or Taylor Rogers the likeliest to appear in a save situation on Sunday.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Ryan Weber, NYY | RosterResource

Extra innings in Cinncinatti forced the Yankees to use nearly every member of their large closer committee. The Yankees tied the game in the top of the fifth and it stayed locked until the top of the tenth. Ron Marinaccio threw in the fifth and sixth, Michael King threw in the seventh and eighth, Clay Holmes in the ninth, and Weber in extras. Weber had his “Contract selected from (the) minors” on May 11th according to the RosterResource “Transaction Tracker” and recorded his second career save a few days later. Weber is a journeyman with a career 4.96 ERA and has provided the Yankees with some bullpen depth as they have four important arms on the IL in Ian Hamilton, Jonathan Loáisiga, Lou Trivino, and Tommy Kahnle.

Committee Clarity

•Miguel Castro, ARI | RosterResource

After years of being a fringe closer/setup man, Miguel Castro now has a chance to be a closer. He’ll have to share it with current committee member Andrew Chafin, but Castro has already reached his career-high four saves and will likely surpass that mark soon. One of my all-time favorite FanGraphs articles was Ben Clemens’ write-up on Castro’s very fast changeup. Castro’s 2.61 ERA (3.15 xERA) is well below his career number of 4.04 but he’s running a very low .222 BABIP. His K% and BB% are trending in the right direction and while he’s thrown a sinker/slider/changeup mix for most of his career, he has followed the popular kids and started throwing his changeup more often. It has, along with his other pitches, lost a few ticks of velocity between last season and this season. With two wins, seven holds, and now four saves, Castro is fantasy relevant, for now.

Losing a Grip

•None