Bullpen Report: May 24, 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

•James Karinchak, CLE: 17 pitches on Sunday; 16 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Emmanuel Clase is the top option to fill in if Karinchak is out on Monday.

•Hansel Robles, MIN: 27 pitches on Sunday; 24 pitches on Saturday. Taylor Rogers, MIN: 14 pitches on Sunday; 9 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Rogers could well be available but Robles almost definitely won’t be on Monday; Tyler Duffey (who picked up a save Sunday), Alex Colomé, Jorge Alcala and Caleb Thielbar could all fill in if needed.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 27 pitches on Sunday; 14 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Mychal Givens would likely close on Monday if an opportunity arises.

•Alex Reyes, STL: 32 pitches on Sunday; 13 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Giovanny Gallegos has also worked back-to-back days, but with only 28 pitches total he could well be available to close on Monday anyway. If not, Génesis Cabrera represents the likeliest substitute.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Tyler Duffey, MIN  | RosterResource

Taylor Rogers pitched the eighth inning with a one-run lead on Sunday before handing the ball to Hansel Robles, who wasn’t able to convert the save opportunity. After the Twins took the lead in the top of the tenth, it was Duffey brought in for the save. He walked a batter, permitting the tying run to come to the plate, but didn’t give up a run. It was Duffey’s second career save and first since 2017.

•J.P. Feyereisen, TBR  | RosterResource

The newly-acquired Feyereisen earned his first career save in just his second appearance with the Rays after being sent from the Brewers in the Willy Adames trade, striking out two and giving up a hit. Diego Castillo, Pete Fairbanks and Andrew Kittredge had all worked back-to-back days but should all be available on Monday to work the late innings.

Committee Clarity

•Michael Fulmer, DET | RosterResource

Things didn’t work out for Fulmer on Sunday, who took the mound in the ninth to protect a one-run lead. Six pitches into his outing, the Tigers were defeated and Fulmer was saddled with a blown save and a loss, giving up a two-run walk-off homer to Carlos Santana. Nonetheless, Fulmer has been impressive in his outings out of the bullpen this year and Gregory Soto hasn’t earned a save since May 12th. Unless Sunday’s outing is a sign of bad things to come, it looks like Fulmer is the closer for now.

•Rafael Dolis, Jordan Romano, and Tyler Chatwood, TOR | RosterResource

Dolis imploded in his first save opportunity back from the IL on Thursday, throwing 29 pitches and ultimately coughing up the lead on a J.D. Martinez home run. He righted the ship on Sunday, retiring four of five batters faced in a tie game between the seventh and eighth.

Chatwood was then brought in to attempt to earn the save, but he imploded, walking two and giving up two hits before handing the ball to lefty Travis Bergen with a left-handed batter due up. Bergen was no better, walking the first three batters he faced and coughing up the lead before finally getting out of the inning. Notwithstanding Sunday’s outing, Chatwood has been excellent, as has Romano. Both are still firmly in the ninth-inning mix along with Dolis, with no clear lead man right now.

Losing A Grip

•None

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.