Bullpen Report: May 27, 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

•Craig Kimbrel, CHC: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 18 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Ryan Tepera is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Kimbrel isn’t available.

•Jake Diekman, OAK: 30 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Lou Trivino is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Diekman isn’t available.

•Tyler Rogers, SFG: 27 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Jake McGee is a likely candidate for a save chance on Thursday if Rogers isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Bryan Abreu, HOU | RosterResource

Ryan Pressly was unavailable due to a stiff neck on Wednesday, leaving Abreu as probably the sole option to close out a 5-2 lead over the Dodgers after setup men Brooks Raley and Ryne Stanek had pitched the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, and with Joe Smith, Andre Scrubb, and Enoli Paredes all likely unavailable after high pitch counts on Tuesday. Abreu made things interesting with a pair of two-out walks, but struck out Albert Pujols to end the game and pick up his first career save.

The 24-year-old Abreu has had an up-and-down season for the Astros. After a rough start, allowing seven earned runs in his first seven appearances, he had a stretch where he allowed only one earned run in 10.1 innings. But he had allowed a run in three of his last four appearances, which is why he’s not a reliable option at this point in the season. On Wednesday, however, he was able to hold the opposing team scoreless for the 12th time in 21 appearances.

If Pressly requires an Injured List stint, Raley and Stanek would be the top candidates for save chances. Cristian Javier, who was moved to the bullpen on Wednesday, has the potential to pitch in a high-leverage role. He’ll likely be eased in, though, if that’s the plan.

Committee Clarity

•Gregory Soto, DET | RosterResource

Since Soto’s last save on May 12, he had made three appearances in non-save situations while Michael Fulmer had three saves in four chances over that span. I was starting to think that Soto no longer had a share of the closer’s role. But on Wednesday, it was Fulmer pitching the eighth in a scoreless game and, after the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth, Soto completed the shutout with a scoreless ninth for his team-leading fifth save.

•J.P. Feyereisen, TBR | RosterResource

As of late Wednesday night, there was no word on why Diego Castillo had not pitched in four days. If he’s injured, Feyereisen’s save chance against the Royals on Wednesday makes more sense. Not that it was totally out of the blue, though. The 28-year-old Feyereisen, acquired over the weekend from the Brewers, picked up a save in his second appearance with the Rays and entered Wednesday with a 2.95 ERA and nine holds in 23 appearances. He was unsuccessful in this save chance, allowing a game-tying solo homer to Andrew Benintendi. He bounced back with a scoreless tenth, though, before the Rays walked off in the bottom of the inning for a 2-1 victory.

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.