Bullpen Report: May 30, 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

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 31 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Aaron Bummer has pitched three of the last four days. Codi Heuer and Garrett Crochet are likely candidates for a save chance on Sunday if neither Hendriks or Bummer are available.

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Back-to-back days; 38 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Ryne Stanek and Brooks Raley have also pitched back-to-back days and three of the last four, but one of the two might be the likeliest candidate for a save chance on Sunday unless Bryan Abreu is available after missing Saturday’s game due to a leg injury.

•Mark Melancon, SDP: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 13 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Emilio Pagán is a likely candidate for a save chance on Sunday if Melancon isn’t available.

 

Injury News

•Erik Swanson, SEA: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained groin). | RosterResource

A day after picking up his first save, making it clear that he was in the mix for save chances, Swanson landed on the 10-Day Injured List with a strained groin. He should be right back in a high-leverage role when he returns, although it’s likely that Kendall Graveman will also be back by then and save chances will be difficult to come by. For now, Keynan Middleton and Rafael Montero are the likely co-closers.

On Saturday, Montero got the call in the ninth with the Mariners ahead 3-1 over the Rangers. He allowed a run on two hits, but was able to close things out for his seventh save. Middleton has been more trustworthy as a closer, but was likely unavailable after pitching back-to-back days.

 

Outlier Saves

•Miguel Diaz, SDP | RosterResource

The Padres’ bullpen has taken on a huge workload with three consecutive extra-inning games, but Diaz came to the rescue on Saturday after Melancon and Austin Adams were unable to hold one-run leads in the 10th and 11th innings, respectively. This time, the Padres’ offense gave the bullpen a three-run cushion, although Diaz didn’t need it. He retired the side in order, including a game-ending strikeout on a 94-MPH fastball to pick up his first career save in the 11-8 win over Houston.

Committee Clarity

•J.P. Feyereisen, TBR | RosterResource

For the third consecutive appearance, Feyereisen was brought in to pitch the ninth inning in a save situation. He was successful in his first. He blew a save in the next outing, but got the win and closed the game out after the Rays regained the lead the following inning. On Saturday, there was no drama in an easy 1-2-3 inning to finish off a 5-3 win over the Phillies and pick up his second save.

While it’s never a good idea to predict what the Rays will do in the late innings, they sure do appear to trust the 28-year-old Feyereisen in save situations. We also know that they don’t like to save Diego Castillo and Pete Fairbanks until the ninth inning, so they might have had this role in mind when they acquired him last week.

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.