Bullpen Report: May 3, 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

•Diego Castillo, TBR: 22 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

Castillo isn’t sure to be unavailable on Monday, but if he is the Rays would probably mix-and-match with the bullpen, with Ryan Thompson, Andrew Kittredge, Jeffrey Springs and Hunter Strickland likeliest to close the door if needed.

•Daniel Bard, COL: 24 pitches on Sunday. | RosterResource

If Bard is still the closer (more on that in the Losing A Grip section), he may not be available on Monday, though it’s not a given. If not, Mychal Givens is the likeliest fill-in.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 28 pitches on Sunday, 12 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

If Díaz is down for the day on Monday, Trevor May (who’s also worked back-to-back days but thrown only 22 pitches) is the best bet to fill in. Miguel Castro and Aaron Loup are options as well.

Injury News

None

Outlier Saves

•Jeurys Familia, NYM | RosterResource

Díaz entered with a four-run lead in the ninth, but couldn’t close the door, giving up three runs before exiting with the Mets trainer, having thrown just 14 of 28 pitches for strikes. Familia entered with the tying run on second and struck out Bryce Harper to end the game. It was his first save since 2018 and the 125th of his career.

 

Committee Clarity

•Rafael Montero and Kendall Graveman, SEA | RosterResource

It looks like the Mariners are back to co-closers based on matchups, as Graveman entered in the eighth inning to face Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Jared Walsh, allowing just a single that was erased on a double play. Montero then was handed the ninth, retiring the side in order on just seven pitches.

It’s been a pretty even split so far for Seattle, with Montero earning four saves to Graveman’s three. Montero has, however, been shakier, allowing six earned runs in 13 innings with just nine strikeouts. Graveman’s ERA remains spotless, and he’s struck out 12 in 11.2 innings.

•Tejay Antone and Sean Doolittle, CIN | RosterResource

Doolittle—as he was in his last appearance—was brought on in the sixth inning to hold a lead, and for the second straight appearance he allowed an inherited runner to score.

Antone entered with two outs in the seventh, with the plan perhaps being that he would record the final eight outs of the game to seal a Reds win. But the right-hander coughed up the four-run lead that he inherited, allowing a three-run homer to Ian Happ to tie the game in the eighth.

Possible closer candidates Lucas Sims and Amir Garrett also pitched: Sims allowed two runs while recording just two outs, and Garrett recorded two outs as well but struck out two and didn’t give up a run. Sims’ ERA is now 7.20 and Garrett’s is a still-astronomical 10.38, so they’re probably behind Doolittle and Antone in the pecking order.

Losing A Grip

Daniel Bard, COL | RosterResource

Bard was double-switched into the game in a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning—with the plan perhaps being to have him pitch two innings—but he couldn’t even record two outs before being pulled after allowing four runs. He’s allowed nine earned runs in nine innings of work now, having issued six walks.

Mychal Givens is probably next in line because he’s pitched well this year and has extensive closing experience, but Robert Stephenson and Carlos Estévez be options as well. And keep an eye on electric rookie Justin Lawrence, who’s struck out four of nine batters faced to begin his MLB career.

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.