Bullpen Report: May 26, 2022

The 2022 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

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 28 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Hendriks isn’t available.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 25 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Alex Lange is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Soto isn’t available.

•Devin Williams, MIL: 3 consecutive days; 19 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Unless Josh Hader returns from the Family Medical Emergency List, Trevor Gott is the most likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday.

•Clay Holmes, NYY: Back-to-back days; 15 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Michael King and Miguel Castro are likely candidates for a save chance on Thursday if Holmes isn’t available.

•Dany Jiménez, OAK: Back-to-back days; 16 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Lou Trivino is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Jiménez isn’t available. A.J. Puk (24 pitches on Wednesday) and Zach Jackson (back-to-back days) are also in the mix if they’re available.

Injury News

•Anthony Bender, MIA: Placed on 15-Day IL (back tightness). | RosterResource

Since Bender’s last save on April 30, the Marlins have lost 16 of 22 and have no saves. It’s been assumed that Bender was no longer the team’s primary closer and Anthony Bass was probably the best bet for save chances. But there’s been no clarity in May, although we can now rule Bender out for at least the next couple weeks.

•Aroldis Chapman, NYY: Placed on 15-Day IL (shoulder inflammation) •Jonathan Loáisiga, NYY: Placed on 15-Day IL (Achilles tendinitis). | RosterResource

The Yankees’ bullpen is vulnerable in the late innings with Chapman and Loáisiga on the Injured List and Chad Green set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. But there’s no doubt that their best reliever, Holmes, is healthy and is expected to be their closer for at least the next few weeks and possibly for good.

On Wednesday, the 29-year-old Holmes pitched a scoreless ninth to close out a 2-0 win over the Orioles and pick up his 5th save on the season. He has not allowed a run over his last 29 innings.

•José Leclerc, TEX: Began rehab assignment. | RosterResource

Nearly 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery and close to two years since his last appearance, Leclerc is finally back in action. The 28-year-old allowed a run on two hits in one inning with two strikeouts in his first rehab appearance with Double-A Frisco on Wednesday.

Following a dominant 2018 season (1.56 ERA, 13.3 K/9, 12 Sv, 15 Holds), Leclerc signed a long-term contract extension that would potentially keep him in Texas through 2024. But he was shut down after two appearances in 2020 and hasn’t pitched since. Barring any setbacks, he could make his 2022 debut around mid-June. If he’s anything close to what he was back in 2018, he should be in the mix for save chances at some point.

 

Outlier Saves

•Andrew Chafin, DET | RosterResource

Desperate for a win after losing the first two games of the series to the first-place Twins, manager A.J. Hinch went to his closer, Soto, in the 8th inning with the game tied at two. Two innings later, the Tigers would break the tie and pull ahead 4-2. In for the save chance was Michael Fulmer, who had allowed a run in four of his last six appearances. And things did not start well for him in the bottom of the 10th. An error and a single loaded the bases with nobody out. Left in to face one last batter, he struck out Carlos Correa on four pitches before being removed for Chafin.

The 31-year-old lefty struck out Max Kepler for the second out and closed out the victory by retiring Gary Sánchez on a popup. It was Chafin’s 1st save with the Tigers.

 

Committee Clarity

•Hunter Strickland, CIN | RosterResource

Out of five or six Reds’ relievers who were likely in the mix for save chances during Lucas Sims‘ first stint on the Injured List, Strickland was probably the favorite as the lone option with closing experience. But he quickly pitched his way out of the mix and is probably fortunate to still be on the roster.

So, despite some clarity in the Reds’ closer committee over the past week — Alexis Díaz, Tony Santillan, and Art Warren each picked up a save and appear to be manager David Bell’s go-to relievers — Strickland was in line for a save chance on Wednesday after those three aforementioned relievers kept the Cubs in check in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings to preserve a 4-2 lead. While it wasn’t easy, Strickland did close things out after allowing a run to pick up his first save.

This doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll get the next save chance, but the 33-year-old has allowed only three runs over his last 10.1 innings and has not given up a run in eight of his last 10 outings.

•Colin Poche, TBR | RosterResource

With Andrew Kittredge on the Injured List, it sure does seem like any pitcher from their Rays’ eight-man bullpen could end up with a save chance on any given night. They win often, although their four victories in six games since Kittredge last pitched did not require a save. On Wednesday, however, they took a 5-3 lead over the Marlins into the ninth inning. And it was the lefty Poche who got the call. Despite making things very interesting during an inning that included two hits, a walk, and two errors, he allowed only one unearned run before closing things out and picking up his first save.

After an impressive rookie season back in 2019 (4.70 ERA, 12.5 K/9, 2 Sv, 16 Holds), the 28-year-old lefty missed the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. Now, he’s once again a key part of this Rays’ bullpen.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.