Bullpen Report: May 3, 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

•Paul Sewald, SEA: Three of the last four days; 17 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Justin Top has also pitched three-of-four, which could leave Trevor Gott or Matt Brash to close. 

•Will Smith, TEX: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Jonathan Hernández, Brock Burke, and José Leclerc are all options to close Wednesday if Smith is unavailable.

•Alexis Díaz, CIN: Three of the last four days; 18 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Lucas Sims, Ian Gibaut, or Alex Young could serve as closer Wednesday.

Injury News

•None

Outlier Saves

•Josh Winckowski, BOS | RosterResource

Closer Kenley Jansen remains out after injuring his back during his appearance on Saturday, though he was able to finish that outing. Winckowski admirably replaced him on Tuesday, earning his first career save on just seven pitches. He struggled in his first MLB action last year, mostly as a starter, but seems to have found a new role in the bullpen. He’s given up just five runs (four earned) in 22.1 IP, allowing just 16 hits and five walks.

•Michael King, NYY | RosterResource

Clay Holmes has been the Yankees’ closer, at least in practice if not officially being named, but he struggled on Monday and ultimately had Tuesday off after allowing two runs without recording an out. Ultimately, King has been the team’s best reliever, and he proved it again by ripping through the Guardians’s order on Tuesday, recording five outs on just 26 pitches. He also struck out three in earning his second save of the season, lowering his ERA to 1.56. King’s probably too valuable as a fireman to pigeonhole into the ninth alone, but he’s as good a bet as anyone in the Yankees’ pen to get big outs whenever they need them.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing A Grip

•None